CIR Doctors Welcome SEIU “Road to American Health Care” Bus to New Mexico

SEIU’s “Road to American Health Care” bus tour is traveling across the country on its way to the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, stopping in communities large and small to highlight the real people who are being hurt by the health care crisis.  On Thursday, July 24, 2008, it arrived in New Mexico --  home to the UNM Medical Center -- and picked up a couple of CIR leaders who are making the issue a top priority.

CIR Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth Burpee, MD and CIR New Mexico Vice President John Ingle, MD voiced their support for quality, affordable health care for all.  Dr. Burpee explained that health care needs to be seen not as a commodity, but as a right.  “We are the wealthiest country in the world with public services that we consider a right -- for example, the fire department,” she said.  “Can you imagine having the fire department put out a fire in your home and then receiving a bill for the service? Or if your home is broken into, can you imagine having to pay the police up front to investigate?”

Although strides have been made in recent years, New Mexico still lags behind other states in terms of access to health care.  With 21% of the population lacking health insurance, New Mexico is second only to Texas in lack of access.  Moreover, New Mexico is in the grips of a severe health care professional shortage, with every county but one designated as having a shortage of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers, including physicians.

Dr. Ingle indicated that with such real problems facing doctors and patients, doctors had a responsibility to advocate for better patient care.  “We must make health care the major domestic policy issue in this historic election year,” he said. ”We can talk to co-workers, family and friends about the importance of health care reform and, after the November elections, hold our elected officials accountable for health care reform.”