ALWAYS SEEK THE COMMON GOOD IN THE ECONOMY-HEALTH RELATIONSHIP

VATICAN CITY, NOV 19, 1999 (VIS) - Today, John Paul II received participants in the 14th international conference promoted by the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Assistance to Health Care Workers. The theme of the gathering is "Economy and Health."

The Pope affirmed that it is intolerable that the lack of economic resources "prevalently strikes the weaker part of the population and the more needy parts of the world, depriving them of the necessary health care. Equally, it is unacceptable that such limitations should lead to the denial of health care in some stages of life or in situations of particular frailty and weakness; such as for example life in the womb, in old age, or in those afflicted with grave disabilities or terminal illnesses."

"It is not the Church's duty to define which economic models and which health care systems may best resolve the relationship between economy and health. Nonetheless, it is her mission to strive so that, in the context of so-called 'globalization,' this relationship might be challenged and resolved in the light of those ethical values that support respect and protection for the dignity of each individual human being, starting with the weakest and poorest."

The Holy Father indicated that only by taking into account the value of human dignity and the duty of solidarity can we overcome "an economic and, consequently, reductive vision of health, thus leaving behind so many unjust inequalities that exist in the economy-health relationship."

The Pope made a call to governments and international organizations, to "allow themselves to be guided solely by the common good in facing up to the relationship between economy and health." He concluded: "I ask the pharmaceutical industry never to allow economic profit to prevail over the consideration of human values, but to demonstrate sensitivity to the needs of those who do not enjoy social security, putting into action substantial initiatives in support of the poorest and most marginalized."

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