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ers seek cabinet-level
—gipup to draw up U.S. plan

By Philip J. Hilts
New York Times

Wéshington

The federal government's top
advisory panel on AIDS told Pres.
iddnt Bush yesterday that AIDS
policy in the United States is like
“atl orchestra without a condue-
hecause the government has
to lead the campaign
against the epidemic effectively,

‘All across the country, there is
for leadership from the fed-
eray government and partnership
between the different levels of
rnment,” the National Com-
misgion on AIDS said in a report to
the President.

‘There is no question that
there have been creative and often
Herdic efforts at every level of gov:
. ernment, but coordination of

Back PageCol.3

AIDS PANEL.

FromPagel |

theae efforts is the missing link to
an @ fective national strategy."
he commission recommended
thatithe administration establish a
Cabihet-level group to vet up a co
Ordihated national plan to cope
. withy acquired immune deficiency
Syndrome. Such a group should
bavethe authority to recommend

 

poley directly to government _

   
 

He-cities hit hardest by the
IDG epidemic, that money be ab

 
 

located to provide housing for

  
  
  

gairst people with AIDS and that
govemnment restrictions on the
content of educational brochures
be elgninated.

€ Commission was establish.
1 1068 by President Ronald

In and Congress to advise the
governinent on the enidemic and

. 00 AIDS issues.

 

It has 16 members: five appoint:
ed by Bhe House, five by the Senate
and five appointed by the presi-

_ Gent, Including the secretaries of

health and human services, de
fense dnd veterans affairs. The sec:
retari¢s are nonvoting members.

“What is all too evident to the
comimiasion,” said Dr. David Rag
ers, co-chairman of the commis
sicn, “is a critical lack of any tom
level federal group clearly ac

 

countable and capable of aus
More AlOSNews

   

thoritative action to coordinate ef.
_ forts" among the Health and Hu-

tion, the Veterans Affairs.
TAB! ant] Dther- weenie. 35:

onsibility on. AIDG, said the
orbantssion’. “broad. suggestion
that we need a na

f
E

- not to the point.

ent support disaster relief |

 

“Our plan is to act,” said the
spokesmen, speaking on the cond:
tion of anonymity. “This. adminis.
tration and this department are
taking actions.”

He said the administration had
increased funds {for reeearch,
treatment, prevention and educa
thon and had accelerated the re-
view process on AIDS drugs to
make them more readily available.

Joan Maguira, director the Na-
tional Organization Responding to
AIDS, a coalition of sdvocacy
groups, ssid: “We very much we}
come the commission's strong
stand on the government's priori

_ fies, and our concern now fs

whether the recommendations
will be heard and acted upon.” -
ne administre ation has not sup-
ported pro give emergen-
cy disaster relief to the cities hit
hardest by AIDS, and a White
House official said it is not likely
that such support will be given.

A bill sponsored by Senators
Edward , D-Mass, and Or
ma ee RO eat pee
to cit a rates f ramergune

cities an oF
belp to hospitals and AIDS clinics
and to pay for drugs and the home
treatment of patients, A similar.
proposal has been made in the

House by Representative Henry
‘Waxman, D-Los Angeles, .