Tag Archives: funding

Your Doctor Is Funded By Your Pharmaceuticals

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Ever wonder why doctors are so quick to prescribe you medication when you have a problem?

A recent article by Duff Wilson, in the New York Times – “Doctor Training Aided by Drug Industry” – might give a clue.

According to Duff, citing a recent journal article from the Archives of Internal Medicine:

More than half of the nation’s medical residency programs to train doctors in internal medicine accepted financial support from the drug industry, even though three-fourths of the programs’ directors said accepting the aid was “not desirable,” a survey found.

Surprised?

Federal Grant to States for Physical Activity

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A news release on the Department of Health and Human Service’s website says:

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today awarded more than $119 million to states and U.S. territories to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking-the four most important actions for combating chronic diseases and promoting health.

Good news, right?!

But where does it go, and how do we know?

The article mentions

  1. Statewide policy and environmental change. All 58 applicants will receive funding for efforts in nutrition, physical activity, and tobacco control. The state, Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico award amounts range from $335,801 to $2.2 million. Territory award amounts range from $99,980 to $100,000.
  2. Competitive special policy and environmental change. Thirteen states were funded to implement 15 projects. The award amounts range from $1 million to $3 million per state.
  3. Tobacco cessation through quitlines and media. CDC received applications-from all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. 53 applicants will receive funding to expand tobacco quit-lines in concert with expanded cessation media campaigns. The award amounts range from $50,000 to $2.5 million.

It says we should check out the “Putting Communities to Work” website.

That site has a lot of information, but it’s hard to track down exactly what’s going on with the funds.

I contacted a friend in the San Francisco city government, and she told me that the Shape Up SF program had applied for funding through this award, and hasn’t heard yet.

I hope they do!

I think it’s great that our President is putting physical fitness back into “play” so to speak (har har har)…but I wish there were more transparency through the process.

The Shape Up SF Team!