The American Public Health Association (APHA) is facing a unique challenge as the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement gains traction. Led by health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., MAHA aims to disrupt the established health system, which it deems corrupt. This movement emphasizes individual medical choice and tackles chronic diseases, often with solutions that lack robust evidence. In contrast, traditional public health has historically focused on systemic solutions to prevent both infectious and chronic diseases.
The APHA's annual meeting, held in Washington, D.C., is a testament to the organization's resilience. The event, titled "Mission Possible," emphasizes rebuilding the U.S. health system. Dr. Georges Benjamin, the APHA's leader, warns that the Trump administration's policies are dismantling the health system. These policies include staff and funding cuts, disruptions in healthcare financing, and insurance, and changes in tariff policies that hinder drug and technology imports. Despite these challenges, Benjamin sees an opportunity for a better health system in the future.
MAHA, supported by institutions like the MAHA Institute, has its own vision. Co-founder Mark Gorton argues for a re-centering of public health around truth, not destruction. However, Gorton's views on individual health responsibility and the U.S. health system's role in promoting pharmaceuticals have sparked controversy. Public health leaders counter that MAHA's critiques are misinformed, highlighting the importance of public health in saving lives through sanitation, vaccination, and behavior change.
The APHA's approach to public health is more evidence-based than MAHA's, according to Dr. Carmen Nevarez. While MAHA emphasizes individual freedom, public health occasionally limits it for the greater good. Nevarez's experience as a health officer in Berkeley, California, illustrates this, where measures were taken to protect public health, such as treating tuberculosis patients and closing infested restaurants.
The APHA's meeting this week is a rallying call for a shared vision of protecting Americans' health, addressing the challenges posed by MAHA and the Trump administration's policies.
