My local newspaper carried an article today whose theme is quite familiar
to those aware of the politics of medicine. Bemoaning the disparity in
funding medical research, the banner declared:
" In Ohio, funding for AIDS research is 30 times greater
than for heart disease research, even though more
people die of cardiovascular disease."
Quoting the newspaper:
YOUNGSTOWN- After a decade of
standing silently by while medical research
dollars were poured into other areas, the
American Heart Association says it wants
to see more money pumped into research
for heart disease and stroke, the leading
causes of death and disability in both Ohio
and the nation.
"We think there is a drastic disparity in
funding for cardiovascular disease as
compared to other disease states," said Dr.
Gregory Mazanek, a cardiologist and ~
president of the Mahoning/ Northern
Columbiana chapter of the heart
association.
Protest: He said the local chapters
are joining with other heart association
chapters statewide to pro
test a steady decrease - some $300
million - in federal funding provided
for heart disease and stroke research
since 1986.
While heart disease and stroke are
the top killers and cripplers among
Ohioans, they rank at the bottom of
the list when it comes to federal
funding for research, Mazanek said.
He said $1,129 a year, per every
death related to heart disease, is
spent for medical research in that
area, and only $723 is per death, per
year, is spent for stroke , research.
Those numbers are -far below the
$4,600 spent for cancer and
diabetes, and not even close to the
$31,381 spent on AIDS research,
he said.
Goal: The heart association's
goal is to persuade the federal
government to double its funding
for heart disease and stroke research
by 2002, Mazanek said.
"We think education is the
answer," he said, pointing out that
the association has failed to speak
out about the funding disparity until
now. "We have to speak up and
make people aware."
He said the funding disparity
"just doesn't make sense," and said
the heart association needs to push
harder for more money.
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Sid Roberts 68/dx3
[log in to unmask] Youngstown, Ohio
