Archbishop Paglia: healthcare
systems must be rethought and reformed
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| a group of doctors working with patients infected with Covid-19 wear face shields, Brazil (AFP) |
The Pontifical Academy for Life, the Dicastery for Promoting
Integral Human Development, and representatives of the Latin American Bishops'
Conferences host an online meeting to call upon societies to reform their
healthcare systems in the wake of the pandemic.
By Vatican News
The Pontifical Academy for Life recently released a document
entitled, “Pandemic and Universal Fraternity”. This document was at the centre
of an online meeting held on Monday afternoon between the Pontifical Academy,
the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, and representatives of
Latin American Bishops’ Conferences (CELAM), which comprises Colombia, Central
America, Cuba, and Mexico.
CELAM representatives expressed their desire to encourage “a
dialogue” on health problems and on the common good, describing it as “a first
step to save lives.”
Released at the end of March, the Document, calls for “an
alliance between science and humanism” that should guide our response to the
crisis.
Equal opportunities
According to Archbishop Paglia, "the Document released
on 30 March underlines two decisive conclusions”.
The first concerns universal access to the best
opportunities for prevention, diagnosis and treatment – which, he stressed,
“should not be reserved only for a lucky few." He added that the
distribution of a vaccine as soon as it is available in the future will be an
important test case.
A new Document
Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical
Academy for Life, discussed some of the Academy’s most important contributions
during the Covid-19 pandemic. He noted the Academy published the "Pandemic
and Universal Fraternity" document on March 30, adding that in the coming
days a second document will be released.
The upcoming document will be dedicated to the theme of
Public Health: "Humana communitas in the era of a pandemic:
Reflections on the Rebirth of Life".
Archbishop Paglia also anticipated that the Academy is
working on a text on the elderly, "who have been and continue to be the
most numerous victims of the pandemic.”
He explained that these texts are given to everyone for
reflection, in order to help us understand “the meaning of what is happening in
the world today”.
Archbishop Paglia reiterated Pope Francis’s words of warning
that we are living through an era of “epochal change”. We realise how “timely”
this statement is, said Archbishop Paglia, as there is no doubt that that
"the whole horizon of healthcare must be rethought, both at a regional and
at an international level.”
Responsible scientific research
The second conclusion regards the definition of responsible
scientific research.
Archbishop Paglia explained that much is at stake, ranging
from “the integrity of scientific research, to its freedom in terms of economic
profit.” In this context, Archbishop Paglia explained that there is a call on
international institutions to rethink aspects relating to the health of all
members of the human family living in the common home: the planet."
Amid growing fragmentation
During the forum, sociologist Gianni Tognoni, denounced the
"fragmentation" of governments' and scientists' responses to the
crisis.
Msgr. Hector Fabio Henao, from Caritas Colombia, made note
of the gravity of the current environmental crisis and its impact on health.
Archbishop Carlos Garcias from Mexico insisted on the solidarity and responses
that the Church can provide to populations in difficulty.
Bishop Alfonso Miranda, also from Mexico, discussed the
importance of generating hope and giving concrete answers in the face of the
social crisis caused by the pandemic.
Bishop Elkin Alvarez spoke of the serious
"disarticulation of institutions" and the lack of responses to the needs
of the people in Colombia.
Bishop Elkin Alvarez was asked to accompany the reflection
of the Church in Latin America to ensure that the Church itself is capable of
generating hope and solidarity.
Archbishop Paglia concluded the forum reiterating that "we
need to reform the health system." But, he said, the world above all needs
"a decisive change towards a civilization of love, solidarity,
fraternity."
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