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"The World Health Organization/WHO...in an article in [the medical journal] "Lancet", the agency unveils its two-year long effort to forge a set of universal rules for disclosing the data from clinical trials...With its new manifesto, the WHO ...outlines 20 data requirements that must be disclosed for all trials...PHRMA, the American drug industry's lobbying arm, argues that disclosing details...would deter innovation...and the lobbyists mutter, it would be the end of the industry." The Economist/May 20th-26th 2006, page 83.

Highly unlikely with the congress we have now. For to pass the WHO's rules, would put patient safety before profit motive and that is NOT how this Congress works.

We the people are the patients and we the people need to know where our congressional representatives stand on this and many other health care issues.

Health care is NOT a commodity. The facts on the ground are that the richest country in the world has 46 million uninsured and many millions more that are underinsured. This is gross injustice where the rich get tax cuts and the poor go without basic health care in the land we claim is of the free and the proud.

Uninsured and insured alike all watch TV and are bombarded with drug ads enticing them with promises of energy, sexual potency or just the ability to go fishing without the ache of baby boomer osteoarthritis.

One-of many- reasons health care costs are so high in the USA, is because of the costs of unnecessary pharmaceutical ads targeted to consumers and not patients. Every physician is well aware of the old and the new drugs as soon as they become available. Throughout America, a good salary can be had by persistent drug Rep's who visit medical offices with free samples, literature and free lunch for all.

The cost of those salaries, the give a-ways, and all the TV and print media advertising pushes up the cost of every pill dispensed and every drop of intravenous fluid.

Pharmaceutical companies enjoy patent protection, so the claim that strict guidelines and full disclosure on drug trial outcomes will cut into their profits is not just bogus: it has proven deadly.

Case in point: Vioxx, the painkiller that Merck withheld the data suggesting a higher risk of heart problems for some users was NOT disclosed. Thus, Vioxx was allowed on the market but would not have been if the WHO's twenty requirements and full disclosure had been the law of the land in America.

But corporate interests won out and we the people should ask our congressional reps "WHY not WHO instead?"

Looking to big brother to protect us will NOT happen if we remain uniformed and uninvolved. Politicians must be held accountable and patriots have always asked the hard questions and did NOT give up on the pursuit of justice.

We the people must also take personal responsibility for our own bodies and be pro-active and get off the couch. It is only a simple matter of choice to choose to do the right thing: don't smoke, eat nutritional dense food, play/exercises daily and get adequate rest. We all know the drill, all we need is the will.

We the people should also be asking our congressional representatives what they intend to do about the ailing health care system in the USA, I offer three and my response as a candidate for House of Representatives District 5 in Florida.

1. What would you do to achieve needed systemic reforms in the health care system that would cover all Americans, manage costs and improve quality?

As a retired nurse married to an Internist/Geriatrician/Professor I understand that the amount of money spent on health care does not translate into better care. Studies show that the USA is number one in costs, but not in positive outcomes. Because of fear of law suits many expensive high tech interventions are done routinely and without restraint. When new procedures become commonplace, the costs of these older techniques do not decrease. Reform is necessary.

The U.S. Public Health Service Task force has determined the most beneficial screening procedures and immunization schedules. A health care plan that would cover all citizens should follow these established and well recognized guidelines.

2. What measures are you supporting to assure affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans?

As of 2004, there were nearly 46 million people who had no health coverage and millions more who were underinsured and incurring significant out-of-pocket expenses. Almost six million people lost their coverage between 2000 and 2004.

Health care for all citizens is essential and must be a priority for congress. However, I also stress the need for preventive medicine, personal responsibility and life style choices. Rather than look to government to meet all needs, the community of retired medical professionals is an untapped resource.

Retired people who remain active and involved live fuller and healthier happier lives. Retired professionals could offer pricelss public service by offering educational seminars in schools, places of worship and community centers to educate and encourage the full engagement of every individual to be pro-active regarding their own and their families' health.

3. What measures are you supporting to control rapidly rising health care costs and health insurance premiums?

Employer health insurance premiums increased 73 percent between 2000 and 2005. During the same period, inflation rose only 15 percent and the employee share of employer's health insurance premiums rose 143 percent. A hybrid system using the existing insurance companies to be intermediaries would be my choice. The federal government is too inefficient and the abuses in the Medicare/Medicaid programs prove that government should not be trusted in imposing managed care. The state of Massachusetts has enacted a law that requires health insurance thru a combination of government incentives, employer subsidy, etc. This program should be carefully watched by all, for the answer may be right in front of us.

Another reason for high costs is the high cost of medical malpractice insurance. Malpractice cases must be capped; there must be more arbitration and less compensation to attorneys.

Our strength is in solidarity: we the people can speak with one voice about healing our ailing health care system; we can become one fierce force of energy when we stand in solidarity for people rights and NOT for corporate profits.

"Be the change you want to see in the world"-Gandhi

Begin by questioning your your congressional representatives and candidates for office about health care. If you don't like their answers rise up and run yourself. I am.

About the Author

Eileen is a retired RN, activist, author, poet, reporter and editor for the WAWA Blog: <a>http://www.wearewideawake.org She is running for House of Representatives District 5 in Florida.