It might not be the top story on CNN, but at least they’re running the ads, Vote Like Your Health Depends On It, which ask our presidential candidates:
Where do you stand on healthcare and spending for chronic illness?
HOO – RAY! The ads were created by The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease. The PFCD is a broad group of ” . . . 110 patient, provider, and community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: rising rates of preventable and treatable chronic diseases.”
The Wall Street Journal Health Blog, Celebrity Ad presses McCain and Obama on Chronic Disease , points out:
“…the partnership includes some interesting backers. It was launched last year with support from PhRMA, the brand-name drug industry’s principal trade group in Washington, and began running ads about chronic disease as the “No. 1 killer” in the presidential campaigns.”
I’m delighted however and whenever the complex issues surrounding chronic disease get attention. Do I care that PFCD is getting funding from PhRMA? No, because I don’t think the pharmaceuticals are any more the bad guys than any other players. It’s the system that’s broken.
What do you think?
And, in today’s New York Times, Women Buying Health Policies Pay a Penalty shows us that getting health insurance is not only a slam dunk, this isn’t a level playing field!
Rosalind aka cicoach.com
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DON’T MISS THIS: The virtual book tour for my book, Women, Work and Autoimmune Disease, Keep Working, Girlfriend! kics off at RhymesWIthMigraine. I’ll be posting a link every day directing you where to go for the next three weeks of the tour!
Christina Gombar says
I was delighted to see this commercial on national T.V. And I’d like to see this group continue advertising, even after the presidential election.
And for all the problems with Big Pharma – their endorsement, their saying — This is a problem, and we’re on the case for a cure — isn’t this so much better than hearing, You need an attitude change, It’s all in your head, and if you just buy this super blue-green algae from me, all your problems will be over?
Chronic illnesses are on the increase in this country — no one can afford to ignore them now.
Rosalind Joffe aka cicoach.com says
Yes – but we also have to be vigilant about getting “our” message out – and not letting it become a buzzword for low hanging fruit — illnesses that cost dollars but don’t hurt a person’s ability to work (such as obesity).