Medical Students at Ugandan Catholic Institution Cautioned Against Prioritizing Monetary Gain in Their Service
Summary
At the 10th graduation ceremony of St. Francis Schools of Health Sciences in Uganda, Fr. John Chrysostom Maviiri advised medical graduates to prioritize ethical practices over financial gain. In his homily, he highlighted corruption in the medical field, such as the unethical promotion of certain pharmacies for personal profit. He emphasized the importance of focusing on patient welfare rather than monetary rewards. Fr. Maviiri urged the graduates to emulate St. Francis of Assisi, who is celebrated for his commitment to serving the poor. He also cautioned against unethical practices like fabricating diagnoses for financial gain and stressed the importance of patience and spirituality in medical practice. The ceremony reinforced the message that the true reward for health workers lies in the health and betterment of their patients.
Relevance
This is an interesting article because it illustrates how Catholics tie their faith to their practice. This speaks a lot to the identity and character of Catholic healthcare. The timing of this call to action is also interesting as 2024 has been a year of heavy prosecution of Catholic Africans.