Pubdate: Tue, 28 Aug 2001
Source: New York Times (NY)
Section: Section: Section A; Page 14; Column 4; Editorial Desk
Copyright: 2001 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Robert Newman, M.D.

ODD PRIORITIES ON HEALTH

To the Editor:

"China Now Facing an AIDS Epidemic, a Top Aide Admits" (front page, Aug. 
24) cites a United Nations estimate that 20 million Chinese could have 
H.I.V. by 2010 and that China is responding by allocating $12 million a 
year "for AIDS prevention and control."

In the same issue you report that the United States is paying an 
advertising agency $160 million a year "to handle the media duties" of the 
White House Office of National Drug Control Policy -- at a time when 80 
percent of all addicts have no access to treatment.

In both countries, these figures suggest exceedingly bizarre priorities and 
ensure huge costs -- in fiscal terms as well as in loss of life.

ROBERT NEWMAN, M.D.
New York
Aug. 24, 2001

The writer is director, Edmond de Rothschild Foundation Chemical Dependency 
Institute, Beth Israel Medical Center.
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