Vote for Better Healthcare: Physicians’ Insight | US News
- The American College of Physicians claims voting is good for health as it empowers individuals to engage with their community and influence the workings of the healthcare system. Votes can determine access to healthcare services and physicians’ capability to treat patients.
- Research indicates states with fewer restrictions to voting have better health outcomes compared to states with restrictive voting laws or gerrymandered maps. The American College of Physicians advises healthcare professionals and medical students to promote nonpartisan healthcare-related voting conversations to improve health equity.
- Despite being one of the wealthiest and technologically advanced nations, the U.S. ranks lowest in life expectancy among comparable countries. The American College of Physicians believes physicians have a role to play in discussing voting on issues to enhance healthcare.
Voting enhances not only democracy but also health, suggests one of America’s largest medical groups, the American College of Physicians.
The Association asserts that voting empowers individuals to participate in their communities, while elected representatives and ballot measures shape the performance of the health care system.
Dr. Omar Atiq, the Association’s president, stated that the electorate significantly influences people’s health care accessibility and physicians’ capability to provide treatment.
“Increased voter participation leads to improved health care policies and, by extension, superior health care,” he put forward.
Atiq highlighted that research indicates states with less voting obstacles achieve better health results than those with restrictive voting legislation or gerrymandered districts.
The Association encourages all medical professionals and students to discuss voting and health care in a nonpartisan manner with patients, promoting health equity. One proposal is to display voter registration details in patient waiting areas.
“We aim to inform patients about their essential role in ensuring that national resources are allocated for optimal health,” explained Atiq.
Despite being amongst the wealthiest and most technologically advanced countries, the U.S. falls behind in life expectancy for both genders among comparable nations. Therefore, physicians must take responsibility to aid their patients, including advocating for voting on health care improvement issues, Atiq added.
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