War money

[Guest guest]

10 Sep 2005

 

 

 

 

 

Funding the " war on terror " could cost the lives of millions of

Americans, says a senior doctor in this week's BMJ.

 

Professor Erica Frank argues that the US government's decision to

shift funds away from basic public health services towards preventing

terrorism has cut funding for common diseases and for disaster

relief, resulting in enormous numbers of unnecessary deaths.

 

" The most recent effects of these diversions of funding have been

seen in the unfolding tragedy of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans and

the surrounding area, " she writes.

 

On September 11 2001, 3400 people died because of four horrific,

intentional plane crashes. On the same day, 5200 Americans died from

common diseases. A similar number of American deaths from these same

causes has happened every day since then, she adds.

 

Concerns about disproportionate funding in the US have been building

for some time. As early as 2002, many public health workers thought

that the Bush administration's plan for smallpox vaccination was a

misguided redirection of public health funds.

 

Although pressure to provide mass immunisation against smallpox has

subsided, preparedness for bioterrorism still seems magnified well

beyond its proportional risk. For example, in September 2002 New York

was awarded $1.3m to reduce heart disease, the leading killer of New

Yorkers, while $34m was awarded for bioterrorism preparedness in the

state.

 

FBI funds designated for investigating fraud in health care also seem

to have shifted to other purposes, including fighting terrorism, and

military funds for cleaning up polluted sites and meeting clean air

standards have been proposed for capping and exemption by the

Pentagon.

 

These observations are not intended to diminish the tragedies of 11

September 2001 or 7 July 2005 or other terrorist actions, nor to

negate the importance of developing effective ways of making sure

such tragedies are not repeated, says the author.

 

It is certainly justifiable for governments to appropriate

substantial funds to prevent potential future threats to our

security. But public funding for current threats should not be

compromised.

 

" Predictable tragedies happen every day. We know strategies to reduce

deaths from tobacco, alcohol, poor diet, unintentional injuries, and

other predictable causes. And we know that millions of people will

die unless we protect the population against these routine causes of

death, " she concludes.

 

Editorial: Funding the public health response to terrorism BMJ Volume

331, pp 526-7

 

Emma Dickinson

edickinson

44-20-7383-6529

BMJ-British Medical Journal

http://www.bmj.com