Rallying for Universal Health Care

On Friday afternoon, bystanders in Chicago's Federal Plaza were startled to see a line of chanting, white-coated medical students snaking into the square to the beat of Native American drums and escorted by the Chicago Police Department. Despite overcast skies and light rain, hundreds of AMSA members gathered to call for universal health care, chanting and cheering alongside advocates from the Illinois Campaign for Better Health Care, a grass-roots coalition of community organizations pushing for a health-care system that responds to the needs of everyone.

Some students moved streetside, encouraging delivery trucks and cab drivers to honk their horns for universal health care.

"We see our patients forego preventive care. We see the devastating effect of lack of insurance and lack of care on our patients," declared AMSA president Leana Wen above the din. "We know that is bad medicine, bad policy and bad economics."

The Rev. Jennifer Kottler, deputy director of Protestants for the Common Good, charged ralliers with spreading the word. "We must make people's bones strong…our society relies on it. Our faith communities rely on it. Our health-care community relies on it," she said. Universal health care is the only acceptable solution, she asserted, and students are in a position to call for it. "In my community, we call it evangelism. We have got to get the word out…. You all are now health-care evangelists."

"This is what America is all about," said Dr. Terry Mason, Chicago's health commissioner and former AMSA member. Mason reminded students that their responsibility is broader than the clinic. "When it's necessary, we'll put down the stethoscope and take care of our people on a much, much broader scale."

"Health care is a basic, fundamental right," said Illinois First Lady Patti Blagojevich, her toddler daughter in her arms. "We have made significant health-care advances in Illinois, but we need to do more." Governor Ron Blagojevich signed the Health Care Justice Act into law in 2004, which calls for workable health-care solutions to be implemented by July 2007.

"When we talk about 'everybody in, nobody out,' that's a good slogan," said Ken Scott, director of American Indian Health Services of Chicago, responding to one of the crowd's chants. "But the American Indians across this great country have not reached parity in health care. You need that. We need that.

"When this is over this evening, your jobs have not finished," he continued. "You are not just people who gather. You need to go talk to your representatives. I've spoken to mine. She's right here."

"The lack of universal access to health care in America is costly, discriminatory and immoral," asserted Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-Ill.). She lamented a U.S. health-care system that ranks 37th in the world, and 41st in infant mortality. "The answer is not coming from the Republicans who run our federal government."

Following the rally, students carried their posters and enthusiasm back to the hotel, continuing their cheers and discussions all along the way.