Global Liver Institute Congratulates President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris
Global Liver Institute congratulates President-elect Joseph R. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on being elected to lead the United States of America. For many reasons their victory is truly historic. Not only was their ticket the most popular in history, but they also won states that had not voted for their party in more than 20 years. Outside of the history making nature of their joint ticket, we could not be more proud of Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. She is the first woman, and woman of color to ever be elected to the office of Vice President in the United States showing that the door is finally opening for positive change.
With that said, the start of the Biden-Harris Administration could not be more tense. The world is still in the grips of a global pandemic coupled with the reality of a continuous battle against racial injustice that affects millions of lives. As a nonpartisan global organization committed to improving the lives of individuals and families impacted by liver disease, we urge this new Administration to act quickly to get the United States on track.
We cannot pressure and strip our federal agencies of science especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We can no longer ignore systemic racism and health disparities. We must modernize U.S. healthcare systems, prioritize public health, improve access to care, and maintain vital coverage for all. The United States must also rejoin the world in developing a synchronized response to this global crisis.
Funding For Public Health and Restart Vital Medical Research
Instead of stripping federal agencies of a foundation in science, we must strengthen vital agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Most critically we must invest in surveillance, prevention, and awareness efforts for the most COVID-19 vulnerable populations, increase funding for liver disease and population health programs that address liver disease, and restart paused NIH-funded research.
Unify COVID-19 Strategies With the Rest Of The World
We urge the United States to work with the rest of the world on investing in and implementing widespread testing and contact tracing. The U.S. must also synchronize with the EU to collectively mobilize life-saving resources such as PPE and medical equipment. We need an in-depth recovery plan, and fleshed out strategy to get us through the upcoming winter with COVID-19.
Modernize Medical Coverage and Increase Access To Care
The current COVID-19 pandemic is putting unprecedented pressure on our nation’s health care system and the people who rely on that system for life-saving care. From viral hepatitis to liver transplantation, liver cancer to Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH), people impacted by liver disease rely on science for the development and approval of therapies to effective public health strategies. This crisis has shown the need to reinforce and even build upon that foundation has never been more urgent. Individuals must be able to equitably access comprehensive healthcare coverage regardless of their health status, diagnosis, pre-existing condition, geographic location, race, or any other related factors.
Initiate Targeted Programs Addressing Health Disparities
While the racial health disparities exposed by the pandemic are not new, they are still glaring. We must act quickly to put research and policies to work to eliminate health disparities. It is vital to expand the collection of racial data to mitigate the spread of disease in communities that are disproportionately impacted. Race data must be more thoroughly reported by counties, states and the federal government, and this must be done immediately. A more systematic, culturally appropriate communication strategy is also needed to urge people of color to get tested and treated if symptomatic. Of course, barriers to testing and treatment must also be removed, including appropriate placement of testing sites and cost.
We cannot afford to fight on partisan lines any longer. The Biden-Harris Administration has their work cut out for them. Every day more lives are lost. However, if they support science, acknowledge the many wrongs of the past, and quickly implement vital health policies, they can start out on the right foot saving countless lives. The Biden-Harris Administration has an opportunity to right so many wrongs. We urge them to take this opportunity and lead the United States through science-backed policy and action.