Roma (Fides Service) – Professor Antonio Sirchia,
Italian minister of health, is an expert in immunology haematology and
one of the founders of a Committee for Collaboration between medical
scientific societies. Researcher and scholar involved in the social
field, Professor Sirchia has promoted various programme of international
collaboration regarding certain pathologies and treatment of the blood
and worked on stem cell research. Fides asked him about the present
situation of health in the world, which penalises poor countries. Here
is the interview:
FIDES SERVICE: IN MANY PARTS OF THE WORLD PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED BY
UNDERDEVELOPMENT AND ENDEMIC DISEASE WHICH HINDER DEVELOPMENT. PLEASE
GIVE US YOUR OPINION ON THE MATTER. WHAT SHOULD DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
AND MORE SPECIALLY ITALY DO?
Minister Sirchia: The most important thing for developing countries
is not to send money but instead to create a state, institutions,
professional services for its citizens. This thought is not new. 150
years ago Carlo Cattaneo wrote “the wealth of a people lies
not in the capital it possesses, but in the culture of its institutions
and its knowledge”, that is its ‘know-how’. This
concept was recently stated by John Paul II in his Centesimus Annus
encyclical. In the past, the industrialised west transferred enormous
sums of money to these countries which, far from improving situations,
increased the gap between upper classes and the rest of the people.
Only today we see a change of route.
Last year the Italian health ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry
for Italians overseas, started a Programme for the integration and
promotion of Italian Hospitals and Clinics in other parts of the world
(IPOCM). We set up a network of the Italian hospitals outside the
country 22 of which are in in Africa, to support initiatives of Italian
medical staff and volunteers working in these countries to help them
pass on their knowledge and expertise in view of training local medical
staff.
We would also like to see Italian companies investing around these
Italian health centres, to create development, employment and technology
The idea was welcomed and we intend to continue not only in terms
of knowledge but also via Internet, for example tele-consultation
with Italian structures to reduce the critical clinic-diagnostic situation.
This will enable Italy to be fully informed of the medical needs of
these people and to formulate suitable policies of health cooperation.
This project is a matter not only a question of resources but also
the logic of helping people to develop. This project is neither simple
nor short term but it is concrete and I am convinced that it is an
important step.
FIDES: A SPECIFIC QUESTION, MORE THAN A REFLECTION. TODAY THE SCOURGE
OF AIDS IS AFFECTING WHOLE AREAS OF THE PLANET: DECIMATED POPULATIONS,
GHOST VILLAGES, ORPHANED CHILDREN ARE THE SCENE OF THIS TRAGEDY. MANY
ASK FOR DRUGS TO TREAT THIS DISEASE AT SUSTAINABLE PRICES FOR THOSE
PEOPLE. OF COURSE RESEARCH HAS ITS COSTS BUT THE CONSCIENCE OF THE
JUST CANNOT FAIL TO ASK WHAT CAN WE DO SO THAT RESEARCH DOES NOT STOP?
HOW CAN WE COMBINE PROFIT WITH GLOBAL HEALTH OF THE PLANET?
Minister Sirchia: The primary objective of all assistance must be
the human person and his or her health. This is not rhetoric, it is
a strgon proposal to be pursued through a series of reforms. THis
means that the interests of health workers and especially those of
pharmaceutical companies, although legitimate and valid, must come
after those of patients. Legimiate search for profit must never prevent
the patient from having access to treatment, especially new drugs.
This is true especially in developing countries where growing numbers
of people die for lack of medicines which exist. This is true for
AIDS and for many other infective diseases which reap millions of
victims every year, particularly in Africa
FIDES: AS YOU ARE SO KIND, WE WOULD ASK YOU FOR ONE LAST REFLECTION
ON A COMMONPLACE PHRASE. PEOPLE OFTEN SAY: “WITH ALL THESE IMMIGRANTS
WE ARE THREATENED OR INFECTED WITH HITHERTO UNKNOWN DISEASES”
THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE ATTITUDES AND WORDS OF THE PAST WELL DESCRIBED
BY MANZONI AT THE TIME OF THE GREAT PLAGUES IN PROMESSI SPOSI, TO
DIVIDE AND DISTANCE THE TIMES OF CIVIL CO-EXISTENCE BETWEEN NEW ITALIANS,
NEW EUROPEANS, THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE MODERN SOCIETY.
Minister Sirchia: Under the scientific and technological profile
we are light years away from those times. Facilitated movement from
one part of the world to another has removed health barriers which
until the early 20th century were activated at times of health emergencies.
The evolution of Sars is the most recent example. Every country, including
Italy, responded well to the emergency organising initiatives of prevention
and protection of citizens. Initiatives activated earlier, following
September 11, to prevent possible bio-terrorism attacks.
With regard to immigrants I say that the health of its citizens is
important for the entire community. Italy’s national health
plan 2003-2005, shared by the Regions, gives indications to ensure
immigrants access to national health services offered by public assistance
in a way that makes it visible, easily accessible, actively available
to meet the needs of these new groups of people in conformity with
the bill on immigration which sanctioned their rights to urgent and
essential assistance and continuity of treatment also for illegal
immigrants. In this context the Health Plan encourages interventions
of information for immigrants on the services offered by the ASL units
of expert staff and particularly suited for this kind of relation.
AP (2/1/2004 Fides Service ; lines:79 words:1047)
IN-DEPHT STUDY
