Economizing on rights?

There are 10% handicapped and disabled persons in Czech republic, 4% are partially or completely dependent on help of other people. Although the approach to these people by the society has improved over the last decades, recent proposals of legal measures by the government might lead them to difficult situations. The Council Iustitia and Pax of the Czech Bishops’ conference has decided to react to these questions and published a declaration regarding the situation of handicapped and disabled people.A sensitive matter. Bishop Václav Malý, president of the Council Iustitia and Pax, thinks that if the state, regions and municipalities manage their financial sources reasonably, sufficient funds can be created to support health and social care for the disabled and handicapped, considering it to be "highly sensitive and necessary matter". According to the document, position of disabled and handicapped persons has improved over the last twenty years, thanks to the efforts to integrate these people in normal life the way that allows them to apply their skills, get solid education and find suitable employment. "However, despite this positive trend some problems persist and new ones arise. Recently there have been attempts trying to enforce proposals that could make the life of such persons more complicated, resulting even in severe financial difficulties", reads the declaration of the council. Measures which don’t help. The Bishops’ conference points to problems like lowering of contribution for the families taking care of handicapped and disabled children aged 4-7. These families suffer from economic insufficiency and often have no possibility to solve their situation reasonably. It can even result in their decision to put their children to specialized health institutes because they are not financially capable of taking care of them at home. Another proposal of the government talks about cancellation of the support of employment of persons disadvantaged for health reasons. This measure could bring loss of job for a significant group of people because they would become a "burden" for their employers, due to their lowered level of performance. Bishops write about unstable financing of non-profit organizations working in the health-care environment, which makes impossible a long-term planning and development. Another point mentioned by the Council Iustitia and Pax is an excessive prolongation of time limits for assessment of conditions of the disabled and handicapped by medical examiners, which means long months of uncertainty and stress for those persons and their families.Battle of priorities. Category of handicapped and disabled people consists mainly of seniors, explain the prelates and continue: "We realize that economical situation of our country is difficult and it’s necessary to choose priorities. Reductions are sought also in this area, but we think that position of handicapped and disabled persons, especially seniors, shouldn’t worsen. Many of them could fall into poverty". Document points to the role of regions and municipalities which "can influence quality of life of their citizens in a significant way". Sadly, their approach differs and the reaction of authorities can often be described as "ignorant and reluctant", mainly in bigger towns. On the other side, many organizations have been established that unite handicapped, disabled and disadvantaged persons, including Caritas Czech republic, with aim to improve their life. "We consider this kind of support and cooperation to be an important aspect of a modern democratic society", write the bishops and appreciate efforts to support providing of health care in natural domestic environment.Light at the end of the tunnel. Neverthless, it seems that the discussion of the government’s proposals on all platforms of the society, including the appeal of the Catholic Church, brings its fruits. Financial contribution for disabled and handicapped children aged 4-7 will rise by 2,000 CZK (80 EURO) per month from December 2012. Also, the procedures for applicants for dotations on purchase of special health-care instruments should be simplified. Indivisibility of human dignity. "It repeatedly shows that one of the basic principles of the Gospel – altruistic help to the weak, ill and emarginated – has not been a powerful inspiration only for Christians, but has represented one of the essential pillars of Europe for centuries", affirms the document of the Czech Bishops’ conference and invites to take seriously critical areas that could "harm and threaten human dignity" of our neighbours. "Human dignity, just like human freedom, is indivisible", conclude the prelates.