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The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), the nation's oldest and largest, independent association for physicians-in-training, congratulates President-elect Barack Obama and urges him to move the country toward a health care system that delivers accessible, affordable, high-quality health care to all Americans.

"The country is in a state of crisis," says Dr. Brian Hurley, AMSA's national president. "We need to go back to basics to enact comprehensive reform of our currently fragmented, for-profit, managed care non-system approach to delivering health care. AMSA recognizes the need for a strong, public, national health insurance program that will cover all necessary medical, dental and mental health services in the U.S. It is clear that our patients want change within the health care system, and it is crucial that we live up to our responsibility as patient advocates to create this change."

Specifically, the American Medical Student Association is calling on President-elect Obama to:

- Build capacity for comprehensive health care reform by investing in and strengthening the primary care work force. Primary care providers act as the central point of contact for patients in the U.S. and global health care systems, providing a "medical home" of integrated care, which has been shown to result in better care and reduced health care costs. To increase the number of primary care physicians, we need to address medical education debt. Students who graduate with a heavy debt burden are often deterred from practicing medicine in underserved areas or practicing primary care medicine.

- Create a health care system that provides accessible, affordable, high-quality health care to all. Forty-six million Americans, including nine million children, do not have health care coverage. Another 25 million are underinsured. This contributes to the U.S. having among the lowest health outcomes in the developed world.

- Guarantee access to affordable medications, both in the United States and abroad. No longer can we afford to perpetuate a system that profits the pharmaceutical industry but bankrupts our health care system, leaving millions around the world unable to afford life-saving treatments.

About the American Medical Student Association

The American Medical Student Association (AMSA), with more than a half-century history of medical student activism, is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. With more than 67,000 members, including medical and premedical students, residents and practicing physicians, AMSA is committed to improving medical training as well as advancing the profession of medicine. AMSA focuses on four strategic priorities, including advocating for quality, affordable health care for all, global health equity, enriching medicine through diversity and professional integrity, development and student well being. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at http://www.amsa.org

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