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Michael Claeys, PAN's Community Outreach Coordinator, (800) 850-4726 email [log in to unmask] "Thanks to Sid Roberts for posting the article from his local newspaper regarding the efforts of the American Heart Association to increase the amount of federal funding for heart disease research. The concept of a "funding disparity" at NIH is something everyone in the Parkinson's community should certainly be familiar with. The tragic reality of today's federal research budget is that sick Americans are forced into a position of having to compete with one another for scarce resources. This is a cruel and short-sighted approach--and the time for change has come. The American Heart Association should be applauded for its efforts to reach their goal of doubling heart disease research funding by 2002. In the zero-sum game of the finite federal research budget, however, heart disease's gain will inevitably mean somebody else's loss. As advocates for increased Parkinson's research funding, how many times have you been asked "Where's the money going to come from?" or "Who do we take it from, Cancer, Alzheimer's, AIDS?" The Parkinson's community has achieved a great victory in passage of the Udall Act, but now we face the task of securing the additional funds to reach the full $100 million authorization. How do we do it while heart disease and every other deserving disease group tries to do the same thing? One way might be, like the old saying goes, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." In 1998 there needs to be a concerted national effort to double the amount of federal research funding, not just for Parkinson's or heart disease, but double the entire NIH budget! Disease advocacy groups need to come together in the recognition that working for a united goal will benefit everyone far more than for each to work just in their own interest. The combined resources of all the powerful patient advocacy groups will be able to galvanize public support in a way that lawmakers will be unable to resist. Think of it, who doesn't know somebody who suffers from a disease or disability that could benefit from increased medical research? And it can be done! America is the richest, most technologically proficient and most innovative nation on earth. In this time of relative peace and growing prosperity, can't we afford to make an investment in the health of our citizens? In 1998, the entire NIH budget will be about $13.65 billion--that's less than half the cost of one B-2 bomber! And what is that compared to the hundreds of billions spent each year to care for our sick family members and friends? We need to continue our efforts to secure full funding of the Udall Act in 1998, and a part of that effort should be to convince the American people and our elected officials that 1998 will be the year we double the NIH budget. Bare in mind that doubling NIH will not necessarily mean the automatice doubling of every catagory of research. Rather, it will mean the availability of greatly increased resources for those research areas, like Parkinson's, that have long suffered under the current system. Furthermore, being out front and visible in the drive to double NIH will further raise both public and Congressional awareness of Parkinson's, those who suffer with it, and the promise of the cure. No stone will be left unturned in the pursuit of appropriations to fully fund the Udall Act in 1998 and 1999, and that includes the effort to help ourselves while helping all Americans living with disease. Journalist Morton Kondracke and PBS have produced a video documentary, "the Politics of Medicine," which takes an unflinching look at the realities of federal medical research funding. This enlightening video features interviews with many of the nation's leading biomedical reserch advocates in Congress, the NIH, and the patient advocacy community. In addition to being a recognized advocate for Parkinson's disease (his wife Milly has Parkinson's), Kondracke is one of the leaders in the movement to double the NIH budget. VHS copies of "The Politics of Medicine" are available for purchase or loan through the Parkinson's Action Network at (800) 850-4726. Those wishing to purchase a tape are asked to make a $10.00 contribution to cover shipping and reproduction costs. Please address any additional questions, comments or requests to Michael Claeys, PAN's Community Outreach Coordinator, (800) 850-4726 or email [log in to unmask]" From: "Parkinson's Action Network" <[log in to unmask]> Reply-To: [log in to unmask] Organization: Parkinson's Action Network