Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 9, 1970)
Challenges to public health outlined By DON MACK Of the Emerald “Only if we replace rhetoric by deeds can the future of public health be preserved.” This was the view of Dr. John Cippola, director of health planning, Oregon State Board of Health, who spoke before about 75 persons in the EMU ballroom Thursday. Cippola, who called public health “the greatest challenge of the era,” was one of ten guest speakers participating in a three day symposium sponsored by the University School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation marking the school’s 50th anniversary. The health director said the phrase “health is a basic right” is meaningless unless followed up by actions. And if Americans believe those words, health must take national priority over such programs as arms spending and lunar missions, he said. Public health in America is beset with problems stemming from failures in the medical care system, lack of money and conflicting social values, Cippola said. The medical care system in America was predicated on the family doctor concept, he said. Now, fewer general practitioners are graduating, patients are going directly to specialists and a medical manpower shortage is becoming critical. “Neither federal, state or local governments have faced the fact that health is a basic right by backing that with money,” Cippola charged.Oregon has the “dubious distinction” of allocating no money to local level health agencies, he said. The professor of public health at Pacific University pointed out the incongrous situation existing today in which fewer scholarships are available for medical students while construction of health facilities continues. Two theories of man’s relationship to society have produced conflicting values which are damaging public health, Cippola said. The social responsibility theory says the government has the respon sibility of providing high public health standards, while the personal responsibility theory stresses the importance of in dividual initiative. “The Elizabethan idea remains that the sick are sick and the poor are poor because they do not show the initiative to keep themselves healthy,” he said. Cippola called for a synthesis of the two value systems which would provide for personal initiative but demand social responsibility for federal, state and local government. “This requires a view of government as ‘we’ and not ‘they.’ ” Creation of comprehensive The Oregon Daily Emerald is published Monday through Friday during school year, except during exam and vacation periods. Twice weekly during 8 week summer session; once weekly during 3-week summer session, by the Publications Board of the University of Oregon. Second class postage paid at Eugene, Oregon 97403. Subscription rates $10 per year, $9.00 academic year, $3.50 per term. Grattan Kerans Russ Mustola Editor Business Manager partnersmp neaun services, comprised of practising physicians from every medical specialty, should be the objective when planning the future of public health, he said. The secret to resolution of public health problems “lies in the success of getting the five segments of society to move mwaiu men responslDUlties, Cippola said. He said the educational establishment, particularly medical schools, professional health organizations, private health agencies such as industry, ihe government, and individuals must be the segments of society willing to tackle present public health problems. German AUTO SERVICE VOLKSWAGEN MERCEDES & PORSCHE FACTORY TRAINED EXPERTS German AUTO SERVICE GUENTER SCHOENER Bus. Ph. 343-2912 2045 FRANKLIN BLVD. Eugene, Oregon 97403 y, -v/, Kv y * c° ^o.. % X, ♦c* X, f<5», s'o, jge 4