An Immediate Internal Threat — We Must Rise Up

By Kalim Ahmed MD FCCP FAASM

“Well done is better than well said." Benjamin Franklin

fixingushealthcare.com

Sunday, November 17, 2024

Dear Mr. President, Honorable Members of Congress, Distinguished Staff and Fine Citizens,

This essay requires my personal considered thoughts on health care. In 2024, they can only be expressed through my prism — pulmonary/critical care medicine, regional and international perspectives and the recent pandemic.

        I must observe that health care in the United States is a confused mix of good old ministering to the sick on one hand, and money-making business, employment opportunities, marketplace for growth and innovation and politics on the other — which has transformed health care’s fundamental objective. I must confide the facts — although our wonderful, powerful country contributes the most to advancing the science of medicine, it does not lead in clinical outcomes and abandons those most in need of care — this deeply saddens me.

Each day I am aware of fine upstanding individuals: who strive to contribute daily; who have followed every rule; who have to the best of their abilities done everything right; and who are “insured,” regretfully step away from necessary diagnostic testing and/or treatment because finances (premiums, co-pays and deductibles) require they first address life necessities (food, rent. etc.). Worse, each day I am aware of “uninsured” individuals who, until critical, do not even seek care.

        Informed observers understand that the United States health system is broken and in need of fixing. The ill face problems without solutions — problems without anyone seeking solutions. Discussion in search of resolution has been stolen away from patient care. The health care discussion has been hijacked by lobbies of political/economical philosophy, GDP/deficit management, job creation and retention, law and accountability, insurance spectrum and pharmaceuticals viability/growth and R&D.   

        This would all be well and good if the consequences were not so extreme. Health care now dominates almost all personal decisions about educations, careers, domiciles, retirements and relationships. We are now in a place where, without meaningful health care insurance, hard earned securities against accident and illness and for current and future prosperity have been lost.

        The answer — defined (our country cannot be everything to everyone) Affordable Basic Health Care must become infrastructure.  As our treasury distributes tax money to address public safety, transportation and defense, it must immediately include monies for efficient, effective, Affordable Basic Health Care. 

Health care models to enable our country to move forward rapidly and successfully exist. If there were to be an external threat to our nation’s wellbeing, security and prosperity, we would rise up and take action. Failure to provide, as infrastructure, Affordable Basic Health

Care is an immediate internal threat to our nation’s wellbeing, security and prosperity. 

Informed and aware, we must rise up.

Respectfully submitted,

Kalim Ahmed MD FCCP FAASM

Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep Medicine

Hagerstown, Maryland  

Copy to: We The People at fixingushealthcare.com