In 1991, Congress created the Office on Women’s Health within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). But don’t men face health issues, too? Yes they do, and U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA, 18th), has introduced a bill that would address men’s health by establishing the HHS Office of Men’s Health.
According to Rep. Murphy, his “Men and Families Health Care Act of 2009” (H.R. 2115), would raise the public’s awareness of health problems affecting men, and ways to detect and prevent them. “The Office of Men’s Health will bring this issue to the federal stage and result in more men getting the treatment they need, which will save lives,” said Murphy in a press release. “For too long the health needs of men have gone unaddressed. This bill will help men’s health take its rightful place in our federal government’s healthcare priorities.”
Rep. Murphy, who says he tries to good care of himself, believes many men need an “extra push” when it comes to getting regular physical exams, exercising and taking other steps necessary to ensure good health. “I think this bill is one way to do just that,” he said.
Similar to its women’s counterpart, the Office of Men’s Health would coordinate and, hopefully streamline, current and future federal and state government efforts in men’s health education, prevention, research and outreach.
Comments
It is about time, I have tired of subsidizing women’s health, social services and education to the point where more of the taxes taken from my check go into women’s issues than men’s issues.
Finally! Men-specific issues like prostate cancer and suicide don’t seem to get the level of attention they should. Did you know that 85% of suicides are committed by men? And yet, not a cent is allocated to research why this is the case (sexist family courts, I am looking your way!). Over 90% of workplace deaths are men. You keep hearing about the “wage gap”, but no one mentions the “death gap”!
College admission are down dramatically for young men too (are child support payments forcing young men to drop from college?).
And let’s not forget parental rights which fathers do not seem to have any more. Why are children given for adoption or in foster care, without even a phone call to the biological father? Why can’t men sign-off on a pregnancy if they are not ready to shoulder the financial burden of the baby (that was the reason why women were allowed to get abortions – the financial burden of parenthood, remember?)
Over 90% of workplace deaths are men. You keep hearing about the “wage gap”, but no one mentions the “death gap”!
Warren Ferrell has mentioned this. Others have too, and those that have (including Warren) have suffered Feminist Rage.
Kinda sexist to have an office that only deals with men’s health I think. If this is allowed it is a huge step back for the equality of women.
No, what’s sexist is having an Office of Women’s Health with no Office of Men’s Health. Having both is equality; having one would be sexist.