Sun May 7th Universal Health Care Forum in Saratoga

Wed. May 3rd Vigil for the Insured in Albany, 8 PM
Call Sen. Bruno 455-3191 to support Commission on Universal Health Care

A public forum titled “Universal Healthcare: How Do We Get There from Here?” will be held Sunday, May 7, from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 509 Broadway, Saratoga Springs. The forum is sponsored by the Capital District Alliance for Universal Healthcare, a coalition of religious, labor and social justice organizations seeking reform of the nation’s current healthcare system. It is part of the national week of action around the uninsured.

The program will feature talks by Dr. James W.L. Wilson of Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada; Dr. Deborah Richter, president of Vermont Health Care for All, an organization that educates the Vermont community about the structure and features of universal health care systems; and Sister Gail Waring, vice president of mission services for St. Peter’s Health Care Services in Albany.

In Albany on Wednesday May 3rd at 8 PM, Medical students from Albany Med are organizing a candlelight vigil and speak out for the the Uninsured at the Koinonia Health Care, 553 Clinton Ave, Albany New York

Also, area residents are urged to contact Senator Bruno:( call 455-3191, or write to Senator Bruno, LOB, Albany NY 12247): “We need quality health care for all New Yorkers. Please support creating a Commission on Health Care Coverage (S4928) to evaluate all the options to determine what would best for New York in creating a system that would cover everyone with affordable health insurance.”

We can save consumer and tax dollars – while improving our health care system! The rest of the world has done it – why can’t New York?

We spend one out of every six dollars in our economy on our health care – twice as much as any other country – for a health care system that is ranked overall only 37th by the World Health Organization. Other countries spend much less, cover everyone, have more doctor visits, live longer, and have better health outcomes (e.g., lower infant mortality rates).

General Motors now spends more money on health care per car - $1,500 – than they do on steel. It is a major reason why they have laid off more than 30,000 workers. Our present patchwork health care system hurts taxpayers, businesses and consumers. A health care for all system would help resolve other problems impacted by high health care costs such as workers compensation, medical malpractice, and auto insurance rates.

We need a health care system where consumers and doctors – not insurance companies – decide what health care services we need. (For more info on the Commission bill and universal health care, call Hunger Action Network 434-7371)

“This forum will provide critical information about the problems with health insurance in America. We hope the audience will urge our elected leaders to be pro-active in ensuring access to health care services for all. It is important for us to elect representatives who are committed to universal healthcare,” said Dr. Richard Propp, chair of the alliance.

The forum is a joint effort of the social action committees of B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany, Congregation Beth Emeth in Albany, Congregation Agudat Achim in Niskayuna, Holy Cross Parish in Albany, First Presbyterian Church in Albany, Islamic Center of the Capital District NY, and Temple Sinai of Saratoga Springs; Interfaith Impact of New York State; Physicians for a National Health Program - Capital District chapter; the Hunger Action Network of NYS, Capital District Labor-Religion Coalition, Capital District Worker Center; the Interfaith Alliance of New York State; and other interested individuals. Other organizations are invited to join the effort.

Wilson heads the Department of Urology at Queen’s University and also is chief of urology at Kingston General and Hotel Dieu hospitals in Ontario. He lectures extensively on issues relating to physician training and ensuring an appropriate supply of physicians in Canada. He also speaks about issues relating to the Canadian health system’s physician payment process and need for additional diagnostic, surgical and tertiary care services within Ontario.
Richter practices family medicine in Cambridge, Vt. She is a past president of the national Physicians for a National Health Program. Richter recently co-authored At the Crossroads: The Future of Health Care in Vermont with former Vermont Human Services Secretary Cornelius Hogan and journalist Terry Doran.

Waring is a Sister of Mercy who has worked in heath care both as professor of nursing at Maria College in Albany and as health care administrator for more than 30 years. As St. Peter’s vice president of mission services, her primary responsibilities include government advocacy, health care ethics and uninsured/underinsured initiatives at St. Peter's.

CONTACT: Cheryl Gelder-Kogan
Phone: (518) 449-4704 E-mail: cgk (at) nycap.rr.com