Citing the need for solutions not slogans, a coalition of healthcare providers offered a list of practical ways policymakers can “make Oklahoma healthy again.”
“We agree that Oklahoma’s health needs must be addressed, but we don’t need Washington slogans. We need real solutions and Oklahoma policymakers who are willing to stand up for Oklahoma patients,” said Oklahoma State Medical Association President Sumit Nanda, M.D. “The solutions are backed by data and include addressing issues surrounding access to care, preventable hospitalizations and maternal mortality. If we truly want to make Oklahoma healthy, Oklahoma’s health community is here, and we’re ready for a serious conversation with Gov. Stitt on the best way to do that. Washington’s political theatre should stay in Washington.”
“Oklahoma’s health crisis won’t be solved without bold, sustained investment in primary care,” said Oklahoma Academy of Family Physicians President Rachel Franklin, M.D., FAAFP. “We need more primary care physicians in our communities, targeted programs that improve health outcomes, and a system that trains and keeps doctors where they’re needed most. Primary care is the front line of better health—and that includes science-backed public health efforts like vaccines, preventive care, and chronic disease management. When we ignore evidence, devalue education, and politicize science, we don’t just fall behind—we fail our people.”
