"It's like something out of the Third World"
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People waiting for free health care in Southwest Virginia in late July. Photo: RAM
Thousands of uninsured people lined up at a county fairgrounds in Wise, Virginia, to wait for health care services from volunteer doctors, dentists, nurses, optometrists and medical technicians during a 3-day free health clinic. Numerous citizen groups are crisscrossing the country this summer to demand reform of the U.S. system.
In its July 26 coverage of the ninth annual Remote Area Medical Health Expedition (RAM) the Roanake Times ran a story and photos and reported that many camped out at the fairgrounds the day before the free clinic opened to ensure they would be seen by health care professionals. "It's like something out of the Third World," said an associate professor at the University of Virginia School of Medicine.
People came from as far away as Indiana to receive free health care at the Wise County Fairgrounds in Southwest Virginia July 25-27. Photo: RAM
Over three days medical staff provided free care to 2,670 patients, valued at $1.7 million, surpassing the 2,506 served at the same location in 2006.
RAM also has free clinics scheduled in Tennessee, where it is based, as well as in Kentucky, Louisiana and internationally.
Can you hear us now? Americans grow impatient for reform
Numerous citizen advocacy groups are crisscrossing the country this summer with health care reform messages.
SEIU’s Road to Health Care, Huntington, WV, 5/12/08. Photo: SEIU
SEIU’s Road to Health Care team has been on a bus traveling across the country this summer and will stop at both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions to publicize the plight of people hurt by the health care crisis.
The Cover America Tour sponsored by Consumer Reports Health is half-way through its summer road trip across the country. The tour began May 28 in New York and is collecting videotaped personal stories from Americans who face challenges getting affordable, high quality health care.
Morgan Jindrich of Consumers Union held a t-shirt at the CU booth at the Conference for Media Reform, Minneapolis. Photo: K Stone
The high cost of health care is causing a real strain on American families,” said Meg Bohne, campaign organizer for Consumers Union. “Many Americans fear losing their job-related health coverage or worry that they may face financial ruin if they get hit with a serious illness.” CU invites people to submit their own stories online, or request that the bus stop in their town.
The Health Care for America Now coalition launched a $40 million campaign July 8 that will include 52 events in 37 states as well as a TV ad campaign. HCAN has proposed a set of principles to cover every person in America with quality affordable health care.
Many more resources and personal stories (in print, audio and video) are available from Cover the Uninsured, an ongoing project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
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It is absolutely laughable that our government is willing to spend billions profiteering off of an illegal war but will not front a few billion to its own citizens.
Until we figure out a way to get healthcare to everybody, America will be a second-rate nation.
Our health policies speak volumes about our national priorities. We now have older Americans in wheelchairs camping out for free health care. Who doesn't see something terribly wrong with that? How indoctrinated must one be to justify it or lay blame on the person that finds themselves in that situation?
Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's plans are an abysmal support of the money-grubbing, bottom line worshiping HMOs.
If it's not single payer health care as it is in every other enlightened country, it isn't worth jack, and just as many people will not be covered.
Their "cost" argument is bogus, because they never mention the fact that we not only pay for our own health care, but everyone else's, too, because anyone who get sick enough goes to a public hospital.
Where do they think that money comes from, certainly not a benevolent HMO that does charity work in a free clinic as so many doctor do.
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