Posted on 11/16/2001 1:20:37 PM PST by Max McGarrity
The state of Massachusetts has a substantial Public Health Department, supported by many outspoken advocates. Outspoken, but afflicted by tunnel vision.
The state faces a financial crunch. But that doesn't seem to matter. The advocates want to protect their programs down to the last penny. And never mind whether the program is essential, useful or something that we can do without in a pinch.
Say the words ``public health'' and these days there springs to mind a moon-suited worker taking what may be anthrax-laced powder from a post office somewhere. Yes, that's essential.
But ``public health'' in Massachusetts, according to the governor's budget request 10 months ago, includes a mind-boggling expenditure of about $680 million in 147 different programs.
``Public health'' includes $790,453 to go with a federal grant for a ``Demonstration program to conduct toxic waste site health impact asssessments.'' Never mind that nobody in the country has been able to find any proof of such impacts despite 20 years of looking.
``Public health'' includes $12.7 million for ``Expansion of smoking prevention and cessation programs.'' That's in addition to $50.4 million for ``Smoking prevention and cessation programs.'' That's in addition to $1.7 million to go with a federal grant for ``Tobacco use prevention and control.'' That's in addition to $6.2 million for ``Community health center services, including smoking cessation programs.'' Just how many smoking cessation programs do we need, anyway?
Acting Gov. Jane Swift has advanced possible cuts totalling $66 million, less than 10 percent of the department's budget. Her ideas are subject to change, but what is so terrible about dropping $2.8 million for prostate cancer research? The state has no particular expertise in running medical research.
And yes, breast cancer is a terrible thing, but the outreach from private foundations and organizations is already enormous. The $5 million state allocation for screening and awareness programs is surely expendable.
When the state is forced to cut spending this year by $1.35 billion, money that just goes to reinforce the ``Get healthy, darn it!'' messages that flood in on every side with each day's newspaper and news program seems to us money eminently suitable for more important uses. Public health advocates should realize that.
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