Edition: U.S. / Global

Health Care Is Sick

Published: February 2, 2003

To the Editor:

Re ''Drug Sales Bring Huge Profits, and Scrutiny, to Cancer Doctors'' (front page, Jan. 26):

Doctors admit that they overcharge for drugs, yet won't stop until they're assured that the money will be made up elsewhere. Policy makers want to address a purported malpractice insurance problem by limiting what patients who are harmed can recover.

No one seems willing to address needed reforms from the perspective of what is best for the patient. Rather, the players demand priorities that reflect their self-interest.


How did our health care system go so wrong?

Premiums continue to rise while insurance companies post record profits. What about the cost of health care for patients? What about access to health care for the tens of millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans?

It is up to all of us to ensure that universal access to quality health care with a focus on what is best for patients becomes the country's priority.


Pres., Natl. Breast Cancer Coalition

Washington, Jan. 30, 2003