5.28pm – Saturday 25 May 2024
The thanks of the ecclesiastical world to family doctors and the “Thank you, doctor!” campaign. Silvestro Scotti (Fimmg) after the meeting with Pope Francis: «Important recognition of the centrality of our role».
«A moment of great emotion and intimate sharing, a direct and moving recognition by Pope Francis of our role which gives us strength in carrying forward that oath taken in our youth and reconfirmed in the choice to be the doctor of people, of families, of our community or proximity, which animates us beyond daily difficulties.” These are the words with which the general secretary of Fimmg, Silvestro Scotti, comments on the private audience granted by Pope Francis this morning, an initiative strongly supported by the President of FNOMCeO, Filippo Anelli.
A meeting which, ideally, is linked to the feeling of trust already expressed by citizens on the occasion of the World Family Doctor Day (celebrated last 19 May) and demonstrated by the Ipsos survey, for which 70% of Italians reported satisfaction high for their family doctor (compared to 45% satisfaction with the national health service) and 77% consider the family doctor to be the main point of reference for their health.
Thus, to the thanks that the general practitioners of Fimmg have already addressed to the citizens for the trust and esteem received, we now add a thank you of the highest moral and spiritual value: that of the ecclesiastical world, addressed this time to the doctors themselves. It is no coincidence that “Thank you, doctor!”, taking care of those who care for us, is precisely the slogan chosen for the global campaign of the non-profit medical association SOMOS Community Care of New York, launched with the support of institutions, associations and organizations such as the Pontifical Academy for Life, Italian medical associations, Catholic doctors, hospitals, medical schools, patient associations and interreligious organizations. A campaign that intends to enhance the humanizing role played in the healthcare system and in society by the family doctor.
«Initiative – Scotti recalls – which goes well with the vision of the profession which has always pushed us to remember how central the figure of the general practitioner is to the functioning of the national health system, also and above all with a view to taking into account load of proximity that can respond to the need for correct management of chronic conditions, and using the words of Pope Francis, always with competence, care and familiarity”. Well represented by the “Thank you, doctor!” campaign, the role of the family doctor in the healthcare system and in society is essential in several aspects: it is the access point to the healthcare system, it offers complete and continuous assistance, it serves the values of prevention and education, represents efficiency and cost reduction but above all it is the first point of listening to the health, social, psychological and even personal needs of its patients.
In summary, Scotti concludes «a listening point imbued with relational values and humanity, fundamental values for maintaining the state of health of our patients, values today made more significant by the Pope’s blessing and his commitment to prayer for us, to which our prayer for Him cannot help but correspond.”
