14th Congress of Asian Federation of Catholic Medical Associations

1
14th Congress of Asian Federation of Catholic
Medical Associations

• Presentation by Mr Nicholas W.F. Ng
• Diocesan Commission for the Health Care of the
  Clergy and Religious
• 29 November 2008

2
Health Care Scheme for the Clergy and Religious
Background

• Size of the Clergy and Institutes Personnel
  (August 07)

Priests of the Diocesan Clergy 69
Priests of Religious Institutes 228
Deacons 9
Institutes Brothers 66
Religious Sisters 516__
888
1
3

• Age profile of the Diocesan Priests

Average Age 66.7
41 50 12
51 60 28
61 70 19
71 80 23
81 90 14
91 100 4
40
60
2
4

• Similar pattern for religious congregations
• Common to find members of the clergy and
  institutes having medical history of one sort or
  another. Increasing concern about health
  conditions with advancing age.
• Ailing personnel receive treatment through our
  public and private medical systems
• A lot more attention needs to be given to the
  preventive aspects of a healthy living regieme

3
5

• The Catholic laity can contribute a lot to such
  programmes
• professional expertise
• manpower
• material support
• Division of labour in the Church
• the clergy and the religious contribute to the
  spiritual needs of the lay members
• the laity contribute to the bodily needs of
  the clergy and the religious

4
6
Diocesan Commission for the Health Care of the
Clergy and Religious

• Appointed by the Bishop in 2004
• to advise him on the needs and provisions of
  health care and retirement services for the
  clergy and the religious in the Diocese and
• to co-ordinate the implementation of measures
  for such purposes

5
7

• Chaired by the Vicar-General with membership
  drawn from
• representatives of the men and women religious
  institutes
• the Guild of St. Luke, Ss. Cosmas Damian, Hong
  Kong
• the Hong Kong Catholic Nurses Guild
• lay members

6
8
Programme of Work

• Health Care
• (i) Medical Support Scheme for Clergy Working
  in Parishes_____________________________
• Priests in each parish are looked after by a
  dedicated team of one Catholic doctor and one
  Catholic nurse
• Close contact through visits and personal
  contacts

7
9

• A convenient and supplementary source of medical
  advice and support
• Does not provide direct treatment but can make
  referral for medical treatment if needed
• A close health support relationship with the
  priest, akin to a medical personnel in the
  family

8
10

• Medical Advisory Team for the Religious
• A team of senior Catholic doctors to provide
  information and advice for members of religious
  Communities
• Can help make referral for specialist treatment
  if required
• Pro-active support service, similar to the parish
  scheme, for selected Communities

9
11

• Support service
• Medical record
• Annual medical examination
• Dental service
• Influenza vaccination

10
12

• Health Education
• (i) Commissions Website
• http//www.healthnews.catholic.org.hk
• (ii) Talks and discussion sessions by medical
  experts on medical topics and health care issues

11
13

• General Support
• (i) Visit programme by Legion of Mary for
  elderly clergy and religious in hospitals or
  old peoples home
• (ii) Advisory Team on retirement facilities and
  services

12
14

• Assessment
• Positive response from priests and religious
• Increasing demand for help and service,
  particularly from religious communities filling
  a much needed gap.
• Shortage of volunteers during working hours
• Need for strong administrative support
• Financial constraints
• Need for more long-term care facilities

13