Tiddee News

Chicagoland, April 2: An article on imposing high taxes on cigarettes titled “Taxes on Cigarette burn low end” stunned the readers. They were left under the impression that people having low incomes will be burdened due to increasing cigarettes taxes. However, the hard facts related to cigarette smoking go like this:
 
1. Cigarette smoking is a big health hazard for all involved. It enhances the chances of one or the other fatal disease for every smoker as well as for those who are exposed to secondhand smoke regardless of their income.
2. Smoking enhances health care expenditures both for the people who possess personal health care insurance and for the tax payees who lend a helping hand to all government-aided plans for the uninsured and poor people
3. Cigarette taxes have always been a proven government strategy to discourage teens and adults from smoking and to encourage children and teens not to start smoking.
4. With the passage of time, the tax revenue decreases, if any, are offset against the community health benefits. Consequently, heart attacks are reduced, less cases of low birth weight or pre-term babies are heard, reduced cases of cancers are detected, and this list continues.
 
The Illinois General Assembly has planned to raise the tax on cigarette by $1. It is also determined on raising the tax on various other tobacco products, for instance smokeless and cigars. The rapid passing of these bills has been earnestly requested by the Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco. The Assembly officials declared that they must move hurriedly to encounter the menace of tobacco abuse in their state as it takes toll on more than 16,000 lives annually. The tobacco industry attempts to portray that they having a caring attitude about people having low incomes. Contrary to this, they are busy minting money and are least considerate. It’s high time we break free from myths woven around the tobacco industry and hold up an elevated cigarette tax to perk up the fitness of all Illinoisans.
 
 
Source: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/letters/chi-090406hackbarth_briefs,0,7173696.story

This year the number of homeless people is likely to grow. Leading charitable institutions are cautioning that people who become homeless would require more assistance to tackle psychological health problems. By now experts have declared that the downturn could result in an increase in people on the streets.

Owing to the increasing rate of problem of homelessness being reported, now Crisis as well as St Mungo’s has demanded a better way in to expert services.

Research has revealed that one third of the people residing in hostels suffer from acute mental health troubles, for instance, personality disorders.

As many as 8 out of 10 people are reported to be affected if conditions other than personality disorders, such as depression and anxiety, are also taken into consideration.

The relation between homelessness and mental illness is quite natural. But charities that run hostels as well as other related homelessness services report that most homeless are not provided with any lending hand.

The prime reason why the homeless have to strive to access services when they are in need is their non-registration with a GP to which they are confined.

The campaigners demanded mental health experts to operate outreach medical centers in drop-in centers and also asked them to provide easier access to hostels.

Now they are preparing to hold negotiations over the following 10 weeks with various other NHS experts, homeless service and other related social service organizations to work out their strategy, before they publish a complete report this summer.

Though the count of dispossessed sleepers has been declining recently, the number of people living on the streets of UK is still reported to be around eight hundred at any particular time. To top it, people exceeding forty thousand are living in hostels and temporarily built shelters. This number is reported to rise in the forthcoming months for masses continue their struggle through the present financial climate.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7980921.stm

WASHINGTON, March 30:  Reform in the U.S. healthcare system is of great significance this year because of increasing costs and deteriorating care, the Health and Human Services Department stated on Monday in a report.

Various studies conducted in this field justify the calls for an overhaul of the entire healthcare system. The HHS report compiles findings of these studies and publishes them at www.healthreform.gov.  

Though the call for change is not a controversial issue, conservatives and liberals hold different opinions on the approach that they should have. President Barack Obama declared he wants the legislation this year but has left to Congress to work out the details.

Jenny Backus, HHS spokeswoman, declared in a statement that today’s report outlined the excessive cost incurred just in waiting to fix a system that left countless Americans deprived of the quality healthcare they actually deserved.

According to the report the United States spent $2.2 trillion on healthcare in the year 2007, or $7,421 per capita. Healthcare expenses account for more than 16 percent of the GDP. The figure is nearly twice the average of amount spent by other developed countries.

Healthcare costs have almost doubled from 1996 to 2006. They are estimated to rise to 25 percent of the gross domestic product in 2025 and 49 percent by 2082, other things being equal.

The report reads the employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have more than doubled during the past nine years. As per this report American businesses are gradually losing their capability to battle the international marketplace because of these devastating healthcare overheads.

It was further stated in the report that despite the vast amount of resources invested in healthcare, the system has not attained the goal of high-quality care as yet.

The report said that U S scored an overall total of 65 out of a probable score of100,  across the 37 performance indications. Such reports help the US President’s beareau  to decide the US policy  of  healthcare .

Source:http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN3034868020090330