Indian Health Services Can't Be Fixed Overnight

When the United States government signed treaties with Indian nations in the 1800s, it established a trust relationship to provide certain funding and services in exchange for tribal lands. But for nearly 200 years, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) health care has been chronically underfunded. This has led to systematic challenges with disastrous results. It is time to fix this.

It will take strong leadership and support from Tribes, Congress and the Administration to change the culture within the Indian Health Services (IHS) agency. It will take a firm commitment to providing adequate funding to address the quality of AI/AN health care. It is imperative that we improve the effectiveness of the system that delivers critical health services to our Nation’s most under-served people.

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2016/08/12/indian-health-services-cant-be-fixed-overnight