The cost of getting old.

Data from projections on the cost of medical care show that within the next 40-50 years, if unrestrained, medical care will use up 50% of the GNP! Within the next 10 years, according to reports in major news papers today, the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS). While we are living longer, and many living without significant disease or deterioration, those who do not observe good health habits early will break the the US fiscal system. We cannot keep puttering along tinkering with the fringes of medical care organisation. Neither can we continue to focus on institutional care, but need to commit to a system that ensure access for all to good quality primary care, with a focus on health instead of disease. There are many who think that whatever the cvost we must treat all disease with a high tech approach. Every additional dollar we spend on treating disease, instead of preventing it is a dollar less for food, housing, education, transportation and productivity.