http://diabetes.org/diabetesnewsarticle.jsp?storyId=16916006&filename=20080204/comtex20080204pr00003624bushbudgetdiabetesEDIT.xml
or
http://tinyurl.com/3amy8v
(excerpt)
04-FEB-2008
Statement of the American Diabetes Association on the Administration's
Proposal to Undermine Funds for Research, Prevention and Treatment in
FY09
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb 04, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ --
The President, Medicine & Science, American Diabetes Association, John
B. Buse, MD, PhD, issued the following statement in response to the
Bush Administration's proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget, announced
today, which would continue to under-fund diabetes research and
prevention at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Under the Administration's
budget proposal, funding for the National Institute of Diabetes &
Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) would only be funded at $2.6
million more than the previous fiscal year, only a .15 percent
increase. Additionally, funding for the Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion will lose $29 million, and the funding
for CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) would be reduced to
$62.45 million. DDT works in federal, state and local partnerships to
conduct surveillance, prevention and treatment programs as well as
coordinates the state-based Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs
that help those suffering from diabetes better control and manage the
disease. ADA is urging Congress to increase NIDDK funding by $112.5
million (6.6 percent), and CDC diabetes prevention at DDT by $20.8
million which equates to $1 for every American with diabetes.
"As demonstrated by today's budget proposal, once again the Bush
Administration has missed the gravity of diabetes - It is the greatest
public health epidemic of the 21st century. For five years, the Bush
Administration and Congress have neglected to provide ample federal
resources to address the millions who are affected, while the costs of
diabetes have increased by more than 30 percent. Currently, one in ten
health care dollars is attributed to diabetes - and one in three
Medicare dollars - is spent on both diabetes and its related
complications. At an estimated $174 billion a year, the costs of
diabetes are taking a devastating toll on our economy and compromising
the lives of millions of Americans. It is ironic that such a
staggering figure has been responded to with such indifference. We
cannot afford not to invest in diabetes research, treatment, and
prevention -- the consequences for our health care system and our
society will be too severe. The American Diabetes Association calls on
Congress to align their priorities and provide funds to remedy this
growing health crisis." Buse said.
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