A Separate Federal Department of Health: Environmental Health and Other Prevention Issues

Abstract

HE subject of Governmental reorganization seems to be a matter of continuing interest, but is always of greater significance in an election year. During the 1976 presidential campaign the issue of governmental inefficien' cies, program duplication, program fragmentation, and ti 9 A proposed reorganization became standard ingredients of proposals by both major political parties. It was noted that health programs were being administered by more than 300 federal agencies, boards, and commissions, to the end that the typical citizen was often confused, frustrated, and even defrauded of rightful health services. It was stressed then, and repeatedly since then, that the "sickness treatment" system of health care in the United States has become a runaway financial monstrosity with insufficient impact on the overall health status of our citizens. Political aspirants avowed that the pendulum of health services has swung too far toward "sickness treatment" in the absence of appropriate balance for disease prevention and health promotion services, including both personal health and environmental health. It has been repeatedly emphasized that there are preventable environmental causes for many of the major chronic diseases. Until the late 1960s and early 1970S environmental health had always been considered a proper and essential component of overall public health programming in comprehensive public health departments. I think it is only reasonable to note that the Public Health Service seemed more intent on continuing to study and do research than to implement major environmental health programs based on information already available. During this period of time public and political clamor and concern over the rapidly deteriorating environment caused a widespread reevaluation of environmental problems, environmental health goals, program scope and design,