The Politics of Health in the World

"Is Academic Medicine for Sale? . . . As we spoke with research psychiatrists about writing an editorial on the treatment of depression . . . we found very few who did not have financial ties to drug companies that make antidepressants. . .The problem is by no means unique to psychiatry. We routinely encounter similar difficulties in finding editorialists in other specialties, particularly those that involve the heavy use of expensive drugs and devices."

Dr. Marcia Angell, Former Editor of the
New England Journal of Medicine
May 18, 2000

"According to our research the National Institutes of Health USA (NIH)'s annual budget is $28 billion. Only $120 million is scheduled to be used on Complimentary and Alternative health research. That is less than .5% (one half of one percent) of all NIH funding, and is for everything from aromatherapy to acupuncture to massage therapy to Tai Chi, etc. Given that emerging research shows that in some cases Tai Chi & Qigong may profoundly boost immune system function, reduce chronic pain, reduce the incidence of anxiety, depression, and mood disturbance, as well as reducing the symptoms of ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) in teenagers . . . this pitance of research funding is a travesty to the millions suffering from a lifetime of perhaps unnecessary drug therapies for such conditions. We acknowledge that Tai Chi & Qigong may not be right for everyone, but the lack of research is unconscionable, if it means that physicians are missing an opportunity to prescribe Tai Chi & Qigong solutions that may profoundly benefit their patients in many ways."

-- Bill Douglas, World Tai Chi & Qigong Day Founder