Activists Rally in South Philadelphia for Health Care Reform

Published: July 15, 2009
KYW
By John Ostapkovich

Washington's efforts on health care reform got a push in South Philadelphia on Wednesday.

"What do we want?" 
 
"Health care!"
 
"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

Give chants a piece of the persuasion puzzle, as activists and folks impacted by loss of health insurance rallied outside a city-run clinic.
   
The guy with the bullhorn, Dr. Jeffrey Panzer (wearing lab coat in photo), told of an uninsured man who fractured his foot playing basketball, was patched up and sent home from the ER, but the foot didn't heal.

"Well, I sent him to a surgeon who saw him and said, yes, this fracture needed to be fixed one month ago, and at this point it's too late."

The group's electronic sign was counting up the growing number of uninsured, an estimated additional 1,140 people per week in Pennsylvania and nearly 1,300 per week in New Jersey.  They say they want health care reform but with the government-run option that is opposed by Republicans.

(Photos by KYW's John Ostapkovich)