On Monday, Philadelphia City Council held hearings on the Health Department's proposed budget for 2008. The total amount spent on public health programs by the CIty of Philadelphia is $188,828,092 per year. The biggest chunk of this money-- about 23%-- is spent on operating city health centers in 10 locations across the city.
These facilities are open to any city resident, but are primarily used by low-income individuals and people without insurance. At the hearing, Councilman Curtis Jones wondered if a better way to service needy individuals.
"Is it time for the City of Philadelphia revisit the idea of a publicly owned hospital?" asked Jones. "I wonder if we are at an economic point where we need a to have a publicly owned hospital here in Philadelphia."
The health commissioner, Dr. Donald Schwarz, was skeptical of the idea.
"The cost of investment in a hospital is extraordinary and the ongoing expense for that is equally extraordinary."
Jones responded by suggesting a feasibility study for the idea.
"The cost of a hospital probably is high," he said. "The cost to the citizens of not having a publicly owned hospital is higher. When we start talking issues such as organ failure, kidney failure, it exceeds the death total of gun violence in the city of Philadelphia."
A report from Health Department called "Taking Philadelphia's Temperature" has of tons of mortality statistics and confirms the point made by Jones. Kidney failure is indeed one of the leading causes of death. Cancer, heart failure, and other diseases are indeed more likely to result in death than homicide. This is even true among low income individuals who, based on the stats, are more likely to be murdered.
We absolutely need to figure out a way to provide healthcare to our neediest citizens. Is building a city-owned hospital the best way to spend our money?
Tomorrow, we'll take a closer look at city health centers and try to get a handle on how your tax dollars are currently being spent to provide healthcare for Philadelphians.