The application of antibiotics for the public will perhaps be the most pressing medical crisis of our time to come. By and large, there hasn't been a great investment with industry in researching new antibiotics since the 1980s, as the costs for making the drugs are high. Because people have been exposed to the same drugs for so long, we've gradually gained resistance to them, nullifying their effectiveness. This is a dangerous trend on many fronts. MRSA is a problem in hospitals today and will become even more of a threat to patients since the bacteria has gained resistance. Antibiotics used for livestock are encountered with resistance in a fair amount of cases, increasing the risk of illness spread through our food.
This article I came across a few months ago goes into greater detail on the subject and I recommend reading it. I want this legislation to be a stepping stone to address this problem, as it seems to often be overlooked when healthcare and medicine is discussed. Gradually appropriating money like this over the course of a few years will lessen the financial burden of this, and it's all for a good cause.
How much currently goes to research? I support the second and third clause, just want to check on the current levels before supporting the first.
Looking at the most recent federal budget, passed,
here is what our health spending looks like, and
here is general science stuff. Nothing too specific mentioned here, though. This bill would make sure that we're bringing resources over to this field.
