Posted by ReyFort Media
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines has urged healthcare institutions to provide medical treatment to poor patients regardless of their ability to pay, stressing that access to healthcare must uphold human dignity.
CBCP President Archbishop Gilbert Garcera of Lipa made the appeal during a Mass at the Luzon Health Care Summit in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, on Nov. 5.
“Healthcare must not be a privilege reserved for the wealthy. It must be a service that recognizes the dignity of every person,” Garcera said in his homily.
He urged hospitals and healthcare providers to respond with compassion to patients facing financial difficulties and ensure that no one is turned away because of a lack of money. Vito Barcelo
Garcera also called for a healthcare system that would spare families from having to choose between buying food and medicine.
He said the Church, government, healthcare professionals and local communities must work together to make medical services more accessible, particularly to poor families and residents of remote areas.
The archbishop also stressed the need to provide adequate support for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
Garcera added that caring for the sick requires sacrifice, responsible management and long-term planning to reach marginalized communities. (V. Barcelo/ Manila Standard/CBCP News)
Leave a Reply