Q. 1
Ans. Health care policy has a major bearing on cities. American urban centers are complex social environments that are home to disproportionately large numbers of disenfranchised and marginalized groups, including the poor, people of color, and illegal and legal immigrants. In other words, despite the diversity and richness of their residents, the most vulnerable and oppressed segments of the population also live in cities. These groups are heavily impacted by health care policy, particularly reforms to public health insurance programs, funding for public health care facilities, regulations on private health care, as well as a range of other policies that both directly and indirectly impact people's health.
We are living in a time of unprecedented prosperity with large surpluses in the federal government's coffers. The rapidly changing world of health care, coinciding with the dynamic environments of the nation's urban areas, call for a concerted national effort to provide a sustainable system of care for all, including the historically disenfranchised population. Now is the time for our society to commit to provide for the basic health care needs of each individual, family, and community in the United States. In this way, we can truly promote sound health and full lives throughout all of America's communities, including its remarkable cities.
A community-based mission, orientation, and strategies are necessary to promote the health of the population. In urban areas, safe, affordable housing, greater availability of nutritious food, adequate numbers of public parks and exercise facilities, and easy accessibility to public transportation systems and medical facilities are all crucial to promoting healthy communities and healthy lives.
Q. 2
Ans. Urban communities continue to face formidable historic challenges to improving public health. However, reinvestment initiatives, changing demographics, and growth in urban areas are creating changes that offer new opportunities for improving health.....
