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While healthcare has the potential to function as an essential pillar of the next economy, it’s no secret that the current US healthcare system is dysfunctional. Today, we are joined by Dana Brown, a leading expert in public-sector pharmaceutical production, to imagine a non-extractive system of healthcare that prioritizes the health and wellbeing of people over profits.
As the Director of Health and Economy at The Democracy Collaborative, Dana is at the forefront of crafting a vision for a democratic economy that thrives on shared prosperity and inclusion rather than exploitation. Drawing from her extensive experience as the former director of The Next System Project and the author of Medicine For All: The Case for a Public Option in the Pharmaceutical Industry, Dana provides us with invaluable insights about the systemic failures of our current system and offers innovative solutions for transforming it.
Join us as we discuss the importance of considering social and environmental determinants of health rather than viewing healthcare as a commodity and why centering sustainability, equity, democracy, and wellbeing is critical. We also take a look at existing healthcare models that illustrate the value of transitioning to more responsive, locally governed, and community-oriented institutions. For an inspiring conversation about shifting economic power, reclaiming public potential, and building a better healthcare system for all, be sure to tune in today!
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Key Points From This Episode:
Dana’s journey from human rights researcher to public health advocate. [0:01:39]
Problems with the concentration of power and ownership in US healthcare and dispelling the misconception that it’s “too complicated to change”. [0:05:23]
Ways that we can reimagine the healthcare system of a new democratic economy. [0:12:20]
Public doesn’t equal perfect: governance, transparency, and participation are key. [0:20:00]
The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and other models to be inspired by. [0:23:39]
Services provided by VHA and community health centers and how they’re funded. [0:32:40]
How states can innovate to provide responsive public healthcare services. [0:35:31]
The case for a public option in the pharmaceutical industry. [0:38:11]
An invitation for listeners to contribute to the conversation. [0:49:14]
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Quotes:
“We don’t even have to spend more on US healthcare. We just have to spend smarter. There are lots of ways it could be better for all of us.” — @DanaMarinBrown [0:04:39]
“Healthcare is more and more being treated like a business. It’s a commodity. It’s a thing to buy and sell rather than a service that we provide as a society.” — @DanaMarinBrown [0:10:38]
“It doesn’t mean that it’s perfect just because it’s public. We still need to design it. We need to think about governance, transparency, and participation.” — @DanaMarinBrown [0:21:16]
“Why don’t we invest more in the kinds of things that we know work [like the Veterans Health Administration and community health centers] and less in the stuff that seems to constantly leave communities with the bill?” — @DanaMarinBrown [0:31:10]
“If the bottom line is what we actually need as a society rather than what makes the most money, there are a whole bunch of ways to think about the assets that we already have and leverage them to make sure we’re getting the healthcare that we need.” — @DanaMarinBrown [0:45:46]
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Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Dana Brown on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/dana-brown-9866321a/
Dana Brown on X — https://twitter.com/DanaMarinBrown
Medicine For All — https://thenextsystem.org/medicineforall
The Democracy Collaborative — https://democracycollaborative.org/
The Next System Project — https://thenextsystem.org/
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) — https://www.va.gov/health/
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