The lack of productivity that accompanies the onset of diseases and other health conditions may deprive the U.S. economy of $1.4 trillion annually, a new report sponsored by the Advanced Medical Technology Association concludes.

“It’s obvious that disease and productivity are intrinsically linked,” report contributor Bryan Luce of the United BioSource Corporation (UBC) said during a presentation Monday marking the reports’ release. “[Disease is] obviously important to GDP if it’s important to productivity.”

The report estimates that cancer is responsible for the loss of $306 billion in productivity with substance abuse detracting an additional $225 billion. The study also highlighted billions in losses from hypertension, heart disease, and mental problems.

The report’s contributors explained that the data shows the need for further investment in preventative treatment, arguing that an aggressive prevention program is needed.

“There is a rationale for a national program on the order of putting a man on the moon,” report contributor Greg de Lissovoy of UBC said. “Certainly health care reform and better access to care…will make a great contribution to this.”

Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) speaks with Ellen Ratner about his mother’s death from Alzheimer’s Disease. Senator Rockefeller’s wife’s father also suffers from Alzheimer’s, and the Senator and his wife will be receiving The Kennedy Award from the Alzheimer’s Association. Rockefeller talks about the current state of Alzheimer’s research. (7:39)

 

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Author Elizabeth Pisani talks about the inherent problems in funding towards HIV prevention. (0:59)

 

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Cancer is soon to be the number one killer in America, according to Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France and founder of the Lance Armstrong Foundation. At a National Call to Action on Cancer Prevention and Survivorship conference, Armstrong said that America has taken their eyes ‘off the ball’ on cancer and needs to modernize its approach to the cause. (more…)

The United States’s ability to fight global poverty was discussed by former Senator John Edwards (D-N.C.) at a conference held by the Center for U.S. Global Engagement. Edwards said that ending poverty is a non-partisan issue that must be seriously considered and that it is the responsibility of the next president to show Americans that their future is directly linked to the lives of people at home and abroad.

Edwards emphasized the need to improve educational standards in the developing world. He said that failed states, civil wars, and poverty cause developing countries to cut educational programs, allowing terrorism to thrive. He continued, saying children are indoctrinated to hate since the only educational options left for them are religious schools run by fundamentalists. Edwards also said the United States must fight disease by supporting preventative healthcare and work to end hunger, stating that 12 million American children went hungry in 2007.

Edwards rallied those in attendance by saying that the American Dream is supposed to be attainable for all and that Americans should not have to rely on organizations to assist them in a land of opportunity. He said Americans are ready to embrace a new moral standard, endorsing democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama as the candidate that can realize these goals.