HOW MUCH FOR HEALTH?

by Senator Warren G. & Elliot A. Segal Magnuson ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 6, 1974

A survey of current medical care, research and costs, leading to a call for ""a total national health security program."" The latter, with its emphasis on member-governed insurance cooperatives, remains vague; despite the title, there is no firm presentation of accounting, and funding sources are insufficiently specified in this period of murderous budget squeezes. The survey sections provide repetitive smatterings about manpower shortages, horrifying research slashes, and above all, for some reason, the particular problem of defective cribs and mysterious crib death diseases. Magnuson rationally underlines the cost/benefit virtues of preventive medicine and research in maintaining a productive work force, but he refuses to acknowledge that policymakers no longer vote such outlays in periods of economic collapse, and he tiptoes around the extent of illness and death caused by a general decline in living standards. Moreover, his ""TVA health system"" slogan represents a further drain through taxpayers' bond obligations. At the same time, the book barely mentions mental health. Incomplete and disappointing.

Pub Date: Nov. 6, 1974

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Luce -- dist. by McKay

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1974

Categories: NONFICTION