RCH@Sun.COM (06/16/89)
A report from the AP wire as presented in the Atlanta Journal and
Constitution today, June 15, 1989, compares spending on AIDS with other
top "killer" diseases, and brings to light figures that surprised a
number of experts. These findings are taken from a report published in
the New England Journal of Medicine this date, directed by former AIDS
coordinator of the Health Care Financing Administration Dr. William
Winkenwerder.
Here is a chart displayed in a sidebar to the article:
GOVERNMENT RESEARCH ON MAJOR DISEASES
Research Spending Est. Deaths
CANCER $1.5 billion 500,000
AIDS $1.3 billion 35,000
HEART DISEASE $1.0 billion 777,000
>From the sidebar text, the government will spend $267 million on
diabetes, a disease that will claim as many lives as AIDS. From 1982,
the federal government will have spent $5.5 billion after 1989. If
current spending trends continue, AIDS will surpass all other disease in
terms of federal spending this time next year.
>From an article in USA Today, June 15, 1989, the Journal report also
claims that new infections in the Army - 600 per year - could make AIDS
the number one peactime killer of soldiers in the U.S.
Jeff Levi, executive director of the national Gay and Lesbian Task
Force, said the comparisons are irrelevant. "AIDS is not like cancer or
heart disease in that AIDS is infectious, and it's also an epidemic."
Levi wants $2 billion next year for AIDS, not just the $1.6 billion
requested.
MY OWN OPINON OF THE REPORT:
While the report in the Journal took no stands as to whether more or
or less money should be spent, I personally think the only reason
they would release this comparison of figures is to imply that
they feel too much is being spent on AIDS, and they want to hit
middle America where it hurts - the pocketbook - with the
realization of where their tax money is going. While you might
read about someone with AIDS, or see it on TV, Grandma died of
heart disease, and Aunt Sue has cancer -- where do you think the
public sentiment will fall on this one? I am afraid it will stir
up a lot of blocks for AIDS funding, and demands for more
funding to be diverted to other "closer to home" diseases.
Why do you think?
__ Ric Helton RCH@cup.portal.com
\/ PO Box 2133, Athens, GA 30612-0133bevans@unmvax.cs.unm.edu (Mathemagician) (06/17/89)
I agree that it seems that the reason for the publishing is to "stir up trouble." It's too bad that these reports don't add a statement that AIDS treatment research spills over into other areas of medicine like cancer and heart disease. For example, since HIV attacks a part of the immune system, and there is some speculation that cancer might be treated with immune system therapy, techniques for boosting immune system reaction will benefit BOTH causes (in fact, they are already working on ways to get antibodies to cancer cells). Brian Evans |"Momma told me to never kiss a girl on the first bevans at tesla.unm.edu | date...But that's OK...I don't kiss girls."
drogers@riacs.edu (David Christopher Rogers) (06/18/89)
The statistics show that the number of deaths from AIDS is about an order of magnitude less than cancer and heart disease, while the funding is about equal. I agree that this provocative table suggests that we are spending too much on AIDS. Given the long latency of HIV, and the estimates of millions infected, and the scenario of a breakout into mainstream America, it would be foolish to wait until the number of deaths (which happen about 10 years after infection) is ``acceptable''. We're still advancing on a yearly death rate which may equal or exceed cancer and heart disease. ;-( Also, it is likelier that money spent to fight AIDS has a better chance of leading to a real cure, and ZERO deaths at some point in the future. Cancer and heart disease have each had a large amount of money spent on them, with limited results, and no real opportunity for a complete cure. In potential lives saved per buck, HIV still seems to be where I'd place my money. Luckily, most of the public feels the same way for now. David Christopher Rogers drogers@riacs.edu