November, 1998
WHAT: Physicians march and rally to seek “health care asylum” at Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Sponsored by Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP).
WHEN: Tuesday, November 17, 1998
TIME: 12:00 p.m.- 1:30 p.m.
WHERE: March from Washington Convention Center (9th and H Streets) to Canadian Embassy, 501 Pennsylvania Avenue. Rally at Canadian Embassy.
WHO: Over 500 physicians, nurses, and public health experts attending the 126th annual meeting of the American Public Health Association (APHA), other health care professionals, local residents and patients.
DETAILS: Over 43 million Americans are uninsured, and 200 million more are inadequately insured, at a time when the United States spends more per capita for health care than any other nation. Health care professionals and the public alike are disenchanted with profit-driven health care. It is clear that despite the rhetoric and multi-million dollar advertising campaigns, market “solutions” in health care do not work.
All other industrialized countries, including Canada, have some kind of national health program. Creating a universal, national health care program in the United States is long overdue. Rally organizers call upon Americans to intensify their pursuit of a single-payer system similar to Canada’s. They also support Canadians in protecting their exemplary system from the threats and assaults posed by U.S. market-based health policy.
Among the speakers will be Dr. H. Jack Geiger, 1998 recipient of APHA’s Sedgwick Medal and co-recipient of the 1985 Nobel Peace Prize; Dr. Robert LeBow, PNHP president, and Dr. Quentin Young, APHA president.
Physicians for a National Health Program, organized in 1987, is a national network of over 8,000 physicians organized to work for a single payer health care system in the United States.