As we enter 2025, the landscape of healthcare and public health continues to evolve rapidly. The past year has seen significant shifts in the focus on chronic disease prevention and management, with primary care taking center stage. The arrival of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his health advocacy movement, “Make America Healthy Again,” has brought a renewed emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention to the forefront of public discourse.
Primary care, long considered the cornerstone of healthcare, is facing challenges in the United States. Patients are experiencing long wait times for visits, leading to delays in essential screenings and immunizations. The impact of these delays can be significant, particularly in the management of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, which remains a leading cause of death in Americans. Experts like Robert Califf and Valentín Fuster have highlighted the urgent need for a functional primary care system to address these issues and improve overall cardiovascular health.
One potential solution to the primary care crisis is the integration of advanced practice providers, such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants, into primary care settings. This could help alleviate the workload on primary care physicians and improve access to care for patients. Countries like Portugal, which prioritize primary care for their populations, serve as a model for how a strong primary care system can lead to better health outcomes.
The upcoming year also brings anticipation around the revision of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. potentially playing a key role in shaping the guidelines as the incoming Secretary of Health and Human Services. The guidelines will incorporate scientific evidence on the impact of food on health, including plant-forward recommendations. Kennedy’s influence on the guidelines could signal a shift in dietary recommendations and policies, particularly around the consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Additionally, the Trump administration’s proposed commission on childhood chronic illness, led by Kennedy, raises questions about the influence of his views on vaccines and environmental factors on public health policy. As the commission delves into the root causes of childhood chronic diseases, the role of vaccines and other preventive measures will be closely scrutinized. The appointment of commission members and the scientific questions they pursue will shed light on the direction of public health policy under the “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Overall, the coming year promises to be a critical time for healthcare and public health, with a renewed focus on chronic disease prevention, primary care reform, and the intersection of politics and public health policy. By addressing these key issues, we can work towards a healthier future for all Americans.
