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 January-February 1976 issue of HealthPAC Bulletin focuses on the medical malpractice crisis, exploring its economic roots and the responses from the medical profession. It highlights how rising malpractice insurance costs have led to evasive practices among healthcare providers, particularly in suburban Washington, D.C., where medical entrepreneurs are building new hospitals. The issue critiques the medical community's reluctance to confront systemic issues, emphasizing the shift from solo practices to institutional medicine as a response to economic pressures. Notable articles include discussions on the implications of malpractice insurance on medical practice and the evolving relationship between physicians and patients in a profit-driven healthcare system.