background

The Catholic Church in Thailand is actively involved in various fields of pastoral health care through Catholics who are medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses and other nursing personnel, who are collectively called "health personnel".
These health personnel are very important for this area of pastoral care. Their role is not merely a profession making a living for themselves and their families, but a divine vocation calling them to save the lives of their fellow human beings who are not anyone else but their brothers and sisters in the same God who is "the Father" of all.
Quite a number of health personnel are conscious of this sacred vocation. They have got together for collaboration and mutual aid so that they can work to serve their fellow human beings in the field of healthcare according to the teaching and spirit of the Church. Several organisations have emerged for this end, namely the Catholic Physicians' Guild and Catholic Nurses' Guild, and so on.
The Catholic Physicians' Guild has been set up since 1967 with a support of Jesuits Congregation in Thailand. The Catholic Nurses' Guild has been set up since 1973 also with a support of the Jesuits Congregation in Thailand. Both associations are working closely with one another at national and international level.
In 1990, a Catholic Health Association of Thailand has been set up as a new organisation. It is a federation of personnel in all fields of healthcare, be they medical doctors, pharmacists, dentists, nurses, other health personnel and all personnel related to healthcare without any exception. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand recognises this Association.
In the same year, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Thailand has set up a commission under the name of "Catholic Commission for Health Promotion" with a mandate of animating and promoting Catholic organisations involved in healthcare to carry out their work more effectively and be witness to Christian love. The Commission has planned its activities under three main programmes, namely co-ordination and assistance to healthcare organisations in various dioceses, co-ordination and support to the Catholic Health Association, and campaign on AIDS prevention. Later, this Commission has changed its name in November 2000 to "Catholic Commission for Health Pastoral Care" in response to the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Care. It is working under the Episcopal Commission for Pastoral Care of the Christians.
In addition to the above-mentioned organisations, there are also several hospitals and clinics operated by religious congregations and lay people. If these healthcare organisations systematically get organised, the pastoral care of the Church in helping human society in the field of health will be stronger and directed more towards the goal.
In March 2001, the Bishops' Conference of Thailand has entrusted the Commission with the work on the elderly. The main task is to co-ordinate the work of various Church organisations, groups and religious congregations on the elderly in preparation for the establishment of a Catholic Committee on the Elderly.