Taking the Sting Out of Health Cuts

The article “County Health Programs in Peril” (Aug. 25) presents an alarming view to the public regarding the effects of the targeted $4.2-million cuts in local health programs, including those for well babies, sexually transmitted diseases and immigrants and refugees.

While the public may perceive such cuts as only affecting specific groups, it is important to remember that our entire community will be affected because contagious diseases do not respect geographical, cultural or economic boundaries. The targeted cuts will, in effect, reduce preventive measures while forcing society to pay more later for treating actual disease. While the debate over how to pay for health care continues to rage across the nation, access to preventive services has never been in question.

Clearly, the control of deadly ailments such as polio, diphtheria, whooping cough and tuberculosis remains predicated on prevention via education, immunization and screening. As we have seen with the recurrent local outbreak of measles, the lack of prevention has devastating consequences.

I do not know where our county supervisors will find funds to restore the proposed cuts in these critical programs. Nor do I envy their predicament. However, everyone is in agreement that preventive medical services are cost effective, humanitarian and clearly the first step in resolving our national health-care crisis, so how can we fail to assist our supervisors in identifying options to avoid these reductions?

The Orange County Medical Assn. urges all concerned groups to work cooperatively with the county to develop alternatives that will not impact the most vulnerable members of our society.

MELVYN L. STERLING, M.D., Chairman, Access to Care Task Force, Orange County Medical Assn.