New Delhi: The Catholic Health Association of India plans to strengthen member institutions to meet challenges from increasing commercialization of healthcare in the country.
The association’s northern unit will meet at Navinta in OKhla, New Delhi, on August 3-4 to address the theme, “Re-positioning for the future : strengthening our hospitals, health centers & care centers.”
The unit, popularly known as RUPCHA (Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh Catholic Health Association), is concerned about the commercialization of healthcare in private sector that is posing a great challenge to the Church hospitals and healthcare centers, says Fr Jeejo Antony, Executive Director, RUPCHA.
According to him, the mission hospitals now struggle to sustain themselves and become relevant to the present situation.
The heads of such hospitals in the region will reflect on the issues such as price rise, shortage of qualified medical doctors in rural areas and how to stick to the lofty vision and mission of the founders of healthcare institutions.
The assembly will seek alternatives and ways to reposition existing institutions to face the challenges without compromising on their accessibility and affordability for the common man.
The assembly also will formulate sustainable strategies and regional perspective plan for RUPCHA to support the member institutions in the wake of pressing challenges like elitism and corporate culture in health care.
Fr Davis Chiramel, chairman of the Kidney Federation of India, will address the gathering regarding the importance and need of organ donation. He will also highlight the importance of organ donation in the context of Year of Mercy.
Dr Deepika Khakha, senior lecturer, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi will deliver a talk on the importance and relevance of Palliative Care and Counselling and the urgency of the same in the Indian context. She will also explain how palliative care could be integrated into the Church’s health care institutions.
Bishop Francis Kalist of Meerut, ecclesiastical adviser to RUPCHA, provincials of religious congregations working in the region, priests, nuns, administrators, directors of mission hospitals and project staff from eight states are expected at the meeting.