Shulkin was appointed VA Secretary by Trump
(He had been Under
Secretary under Obama)
Recently
fired VA Secretary, Dr. David Shulkin, specialized in health care management. He has been
described as “one of the high priests of patient centered care.
Now he is warning of the impact
of privatization and politicization of the already embattled VA — now
underway in the Trump White House — writing
in a NY Times Op-Ed here via AlterNet with this headline:
“Privatization
leading to the dismantling of the department's extensive health care system is
a terrible idea.”
He wrote: “The
department's understanding of service-related health problems, its
groundbreaking research, and its special ability to work with military veterans
cannot be easily replicated in the private sector.”
He then cited his VA accomplishments:
(1) A new
G.I. Bill, (2) reducing wait times at VA hospitals, and (3) providing more
mental health services for veterans suffering from the effects of war.
Shulkin then claimed those successes have now emboldened those in the Trump administration to aim
for privatizing the VA health system and adding those advocates viewed him as
an obstacle to privatization and worked to have him removed” thus pointing
directly to his dramatic firing.
He then wrote: Privatization of the VA is at its
root a “political issue aimed at rewarding select people and companies with
profits, even if it undermines care for veterans. The agency has become so politicized
that political appointees have chosen to push their agendas instead of doing “what's
best for the nation's veterans. These individuals fail to engage in realistic
plans regarding who will care for those more than 9 million veterans who rely
on the department for life-sustaining care.”
He then said the private sector would
be ill-prepared to handle the backlog of patients and their medical issues (if the
administration in fact moves to close or downsize existing VA hospitals and
clinics – which also follows privatization plans), citing the vast mental
health needs of veterans returning from war as an area that would be gravely
impacted.
He also blamed the “toxic and chaotic environment” of
Washington for not allowing him to fully accomplish his work at the VA.
He then vowed “to continue to speak out against those who seek to harm the VA by
putting their personal agendas in front of the well-being of our veterans.”
Possible
impact of such a move is listed in this
fine article from Salon.
Related and listed here (Pro's and Con's) of privatizing the VA.
My 2 cents in closing:
NEED I REMIND ANYONE THAT WAR IS HELL AND WE HAVE BEEN
IN WAR NOW OVER 15 YEARS IN AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, SYRIA, and A LOT OF OTHER HOT
SPOTS IN THAT REGION AND AROUND THE GLOBE.
Also, need I need to remind anyone of the quote from
Abraham Lincoln during his second inaugural address March 4, 1865 which was the
cornerstone for the VA ever since with only a slight gender neutral change made
from the original quote – the new one now reads:
“To care for (him) those
who shall have borne the battle and (his widow and his orphan) their families and survivors.”
Trump by his actions is determined to downsize,
eliminate, destroy, dismantle, or otherwise do away with time-tested programs which
are the basis of our entire democratic and government system as if he was
resigning a new business endeavor.
This privatization move if it were to become reality would
be a really bad move …
Now Vets need to speak out without delay – both pro and con – our Congressional leadership needs to hear from them.
Thanks for stopping by and for sure, stay tuned on
issue.
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