The Sources of Progress in Medicine

The advances in medical science in the past one hundred years are phenomenal, and often taken for granted. How does this progress come about?

Once mosquitoes were recognized as the transmitters of malaria the disease was essentially eradicated from the United States. Thanks to vaccinations measles, mumps and whooping cough are rare diseases. Likewise, polio, tuberculosis and small pox are now rare or eradicated.

Suppression of infectious diseases has allowed medical science to focus on cancer, heart disease and other diseases of older patients. Organ transplants of livers, hearts and kidneys have become almost commonplace. Drugs for treatment of high blood pressure and many other chronic problems continue to reach the market.

Pacemakers, stents, artificial joints and other devices are now available. Furthermore, surgical advances now simplify cataract treatment and almost painless gall bladder removal (in and out with only a band-aid over the incision.)

How did this come about? Public health policy, extensive research and massive investment by the drug industry have worked together to solve literally hundreds of medical problems. Public policy drives limitation and even eradication of some diseases. Tax dollars support medical research and training of doctors and nurses. The often-maligned drug industry invests billions of dollars searching for effective drugs. (Drugs are made safer by federal tax dollars allocated to the Federal Drug Administration. Careful independent evaluation of efficacy and safety are imperative.)

Whether the profit motive or the desire for a Nobel Prize in Medicine, medical science advances with the investment of money and intellect. And let's not quibble over tax dollars or drug profits, they both are important.