June
14, 2000
IDSA Applauds Legislation To Address Public Health Emergencies
The
Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) applauds Sen.
Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) for
their leadership in introducing bipartisan
legislation (
122.70kb, 23 pgs) that would provide a public health
infrastructure to address public health threats and
emergencies, particularly major outbreaks of infectious
diseases, antimicrobial resistance and bioterrorism.
“IDSA
believes that this bill represents a very thoughtful and
action-oriented approach to address these potentially
devastating public health issues," said Catherine
Wilfert, president of IDSA.
IDSA
strongly supports the intent of this legislation, particularly
its goal to provide support and funding to state and local
communities—including public health agencies, hospitals and
other healthcare providers—so that they may more adequately
respond to federally identified public health emergencies.
Particularly
in light of the World Health Organization’s report on
antimicrobial resistance issued this week, IDSA supports the legislation’s
directives to address the increasingly serious problem of
antimicrobial resistance, including its call for HHS to
establish an Antimicrobial Resistance Task Force made up of
federal officials and public health constituents to coordinate
federal programs and develop and implement a comprehensive
strategic plan. HHS may appoint or select a committee or other
organization in existence to serve this purpose.
In
the area of bioterrorism, the bill directs HHS to establish a
task force to develop and implement a strategic plan to
respond to the needs of public health institutions. Aspects of
the plan would include addressing the readiness of the medical
and public health response, the detection of pathogens,
education of professionals, research priorities and the
necessity and maintenance of national pharmaceutical
stockpiles, among other issues. IDSA has advocated a national
framework that places local health care providers at the focal
point, as these providers are the first point of contact for
patients during a public health emergency.
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IDSA
represents more than 5,500 physicians, scientists and other health
care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases. The
Society’s mission is to promote and recognize excellence in
patient care, education, research, public health and the prevention
of infectious diseases.
The Society is headquartered in Alexandria,
Va.
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