The past few years have laid bare a startling reality: Utah will be challenged to adequately respond to the next public health emergency. One reason is the shortage of infectious diseases experts. Nearly 80% of U.S. counties —including 25 of Utah’s 29 counties — do not have an infectious diseases physician.
In the last two years, the demand on the state’s infectious diseases professionals has skyrocketed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, now followed by the Monkeypox virus, and rapid population growth. Strengthening the infectious diseases workforce would improve Utahns’ access to critical health services – including expanding our ability to prevent and treat HIV and hepatitis C infections that complicate the opioid epidemic, increasing our reach to help people living in our rural communities and improving health for those who need it most. More infectious diseases professionals can help the state better detect and manage antibiotic resistance and future pandemics.
The solution is simple: We need more trained professionals to meaningfully address future crises. The Bio-preparedness Workforce Pilot Program, a modification to an existing federal program that supports public health professionals, is a commonsense solution. The pilot would offer educational loan repayment to help the United States rebuild the infectious diseases workforce. The cost of medical school debt that has discouraged doctors from going into the infectious diseases field can no longer be a barrier to recruiting the people we need to get us through the next emergency.
The time to invest in infectious diseases experts is now — before crisis strikes again. Rep. John Curtis should support the Bio-preparedness Workforce Pilot Program as a sensible first step toward national preparedness and better health for all Utahns.
Emily Spivak, Salt Lake City
from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/2xSLAT9
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