The October 1969 issue of HealthPAC emphasizes the ongoing struggle for health rights and patients' rights amidst a backdrop of systemic inequities in healthcare access. The editorial critiques the notion that healthcare is a privilege rather than a right, highlighting the barriers faced by low-income individuals and communities of color. Notable articles discuss the emergence of patient advocacy programs, such as those at Yale-New Haven Hospital and the Martin Luther King Health Center in the Bronx, which aim to empower patients and enforce their rights. The issue also covers the Young Lords Organization's 10-point program advocating for self-determination in health services in East Harlem, reflecting a broader movement for community control over healthcare resources.
The March 1973 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the severe health risks associated with asbestos exposure, particularly highlighting the case of the Johns Manville Corporation, a major asbestos producer. The editorial discusses the company's historical negligence and the ongoing plight of workers suffering from asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma, emphasizing the lack of adequate safety measures and the absence of a push for zero exposure levels. It also critiques the broader labor movement's failure to prioritize health issues over economic concerns, suggesting that worker unity and activism are essential for meaningful change. The issue underscores the tragic consequences of industrial practices on worker health and the need for systemic reform in occupational safety.