UPCOMING CONFERENCE TO FOCUS ON "ECONOMY AND HEALTH"

VATICAN CITY, NOV 15, 1999 (VIS) - Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Ministry to Health Care Workers, today in the Holy See Press Office, presented the 14th international conference to be sponsored by the council. It will take place in the Vatican from November 18 to 20.

The archbishop noted that "the theme, 'Economy and Health', is very important, indeed, it is a burning issue. .... In fact, since the start of the 1980s the governments of western nations have been deeply involved in controlling health costs, ... seeking to increase the incidence of health and medicine in the strategies of the free market."

He pointed out that in many places in the world today health and medicine are viewed as merchandise and the patient is viewed as a client or customer. The "buying and selling" of health care on the free market, the archbishop added, emphasizes the physical well-being of the patient vis-a-vis profit - to the detriment of his or her psychic and spiritual well-being.

Archbishop Lozano asked: "What is the Church's position on this theme? What could the Word of God tell us about this complex world of health? The answers to these and other questions will constitute the subject matter of our 14th international conference, where some of the world's greatest experts will discuss the topic."

OP;ECONOMY; HEALTH;...;CON-AVA; LOZANO;VIS;19991115;Word: 240;