health
Public health takes center stage in US midterm campaigns: ‘It’s already been politicized’
Some candidates are making public health a central part of their midterm campaigns amid Trump’s war on science
TL;DR
- Defend Public Health launched the People's Health Platform to guide campaigns in prioritizing public health.
- Key tenets of the platform include universal healthcare, protecting reproductive and gender-affirming care, climate crisis preparation, and taxing billionaires.
- Advocates argue public health has been politicized and neglected, particularly under the Trump administration.
- The goal is to make public health a central issue in elections and to improve upon previous public health standards.
- The platform aims to gain endorsements from candidates across all parties to inform voters.
- Suggestions for rebuilding public health include restoring scientific research funding, ending attacks on contraception and abortion, fighting health inequality, and rejoining international health bodies.
- Stable funding for public health, similar to public safety services, is crucial.
- Public health is seen as inextricable from a healthy democracy.