The People's Health Platform

People’s Health Platform

After a year of relentless attacks on the health of Americans from the highest levels of government, Defend Public Health believes it is critical to not just fight back against those attacks, but to articulate a positive vision for what U.S. public health can and should be in the future. In our view, we can't just rebuild what has been broken. We must build something better, more expansive, that truly gives everyone in the U.S. access to what they need for a healthy life.

Executive Summary

1)    Guarantee healthcare for all. Immediately restore cuts in programs like Medicaid and move swiftly to create a healthcare system that truly covers everyone without cost getting in the way.

2)   Put science back in public health. Restore scientific integrity to federal science institutions as well as funding for needed research while putting qualified professionals in charge.

3)   Rebuild public health infrastructure. Rebuild, expand and reimagine public health infrastructure at all levels, emphasizing improved community engagement and accountability.

4)   Protect and expand access to sexual, reproductive and gender-affirming healthcare. End political attacks on contraception, abortion, gender-affirming care and other forms of sexual and reproductive health care and protect access to this care.

5)   Combat health inequity. Act to ensure all have an equal chance at good health, regardless of race, ethnicity, economic status, disability, rural residence, LGBTQ+ status, etc., and make sure health programs and research support such efforts

6)   Make our communities healthier and safer. Because health isn’t just about medicine, implement policies ensuring access to the things required for a healthy life, like access to healthy food, clean air, and safe, sanitary housing.

7)   Save our health by saving our planet. Recognize the dire threat pollution and climate change pose to life and health and restore and strengthen policies to promote clean air and renewable energy.

8)   Prepare for the next pandemic. Because we know the next pandemic is coming, rebuild and strengthen the infrastructure to protect us from it.

9)   Rejoin global efforts to protect the public’s health. Because we can’t go it alone in an interconnected world, rejoin the WHO and other international organizations and efforts to protect health.

10)   Tax the billionaires to invest in our public health. Enact a fair tax system that makes the wealthy pay their fair share and get billionaires’ money out of politics so that we can finally make the investments we need.

Read the Full Platform Here

Defend Public Health is a volunteer-driven network of public health researchers, healthcare workers, advocates and allies fighting to protect the health of all from the Trump administration's cruel attacks on proven, science-based public health policies. We believe that everyone has the right to what they need for a healthy life, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity.
 DefendPublicHealth.org