Indian health minister acknowledges a problem:

AsiaNews interviewed Fr Alex Vadakumthala, secretary of the Health Commission of the Bishops’ Conference, about the matter. He said: “The commitment of Catholics is sincerely appreciated by the government. The minister studied in a Christian school, so he knows us well.” This commitment is “especially developed in four southern states: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Andra Pradesh. The overall level of health services here is high, not least because of our commitment in the educational, health and social sectors.”

Fr Vadakumthala continued: “We have nearly 600 Sisters who are doctors and in India this is unique. The Sisters work in 95% of villages which otherwise would not have any provision of medical services because it is not cost-effective to open clinics or dispensaries and so not even private enterprises set up in these places. Nearly all doctors go to cities.

“The Indian government has launched a programme called Rural Health Mission in which they ask for the collaboration of the Church to improve health services in villages. We have said very clearly that we intend to collaborate with the government and non-governmental organizations only if Catholic morals and ethics are respected.”

The Indian government “knows that health development and education projects in the country would improve substantially with the help of the Catholic church and it wants to collaborate to upgrade services”.