Title: 500-Day Plan, Ethics Among Issues Discussed at APHA Executive Board Meeting
Author:
Section/SPIG: Community Health Planning and Policy Development
Issue Date:
APHA’s Executive Board gathered at APHA headquarters May 18-20 for its second face-to-face meeting of the year. In addition to hearing from outside speakers on issues pertaining to risk management, managing dissent among Board members, and the legal responsibilities of not-for-profit boards of directors, the Board also completed the Executive Director’s annual performance evaluation and voted to extend another three-year contract offer to him.
After a briefing by Government Relations staff, Board members spent an afternoon making Hill visits to their Congressional members to discuss three issues: public health infrastructure funding, specifically $8.65 billion in funding for CDC and $7.5 billion for HRSA; asking members to sign on as co-sponsors, if they hadn’t already, of the Kids Come First Act of 2005 (S. 114/H.R. 1668); and urging support for the Public Health Preparedness Workforce Development Act of 2005 (S. 506). Some Board members also took the opportunity to discuss their concerns about the negative health effects of CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) with their Congress members.
During his report to the Board, Executive Director Georges Benjamin related details of a visit he had paid to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt in early May. Discussion centered around concerns about public health’s ability to respond to a possible flu pandemic or other infectious diseases, as well as attacks involving biological agents. Enhancing data system compatibility for improved information sharing as part of the necessary infrastructure to support rapid response was also discussed. Benjamin offered APHA’s assistance with the Secretary’s new initiative, the “500-day plan that will benefit Americans over a 5,000-day horizon,” helping to develop messages for any of the 500-day points related to public health. The 500-day plan is a management tool that details the Secretary’s priorities and provides direction to HHS leadership and management in their role of protecting and improving Americans’ health. See <www.os.dhhs.gov/500DayPlan>.
Responding to a resolution passed by the Governing Council at last November’s Annual Meeting, the Board received and accepted the recommendations contained in the Pfizer Workgroup Report. Governing Councilors had expressed concern about the relationship between Pfizer and APHA, especially that the Pfizer logo was prominently displayed on tote bags meeting attendees received during the registration process. The resolution pointed to Pfizer’s role as an obstructionist in the development and dissemination of cheaper generic drugs in places where they are so badly needed, principally Africa and Asia. As a result of accepting the recommendations of the Workgroup, the Executive Board will task the Executive Director with implementing existing policy on commercial donations and support, and will itself be responsible for reviewing and determining that corporate contributions are consistent with APHA policies. The Board plans to appoint a permanent Development Committee that will be tasked with, among other things, reviewing and recommending revisions, if necessary, to APHA’s policy on acceptance of corporate contributions.
May 31 was the deadline for nominating people for APHA awards like the new Helen Rodriguez-Trias Award for Social Justice, David R. Rall Award for Advocacy in Public Health, Jay S. Drotman Memorial Award, etc. See <www.apha.org/sections/awards>.