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CHRISTIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION OF INDIA
GENERAL INFORMATION
CMAI began In 1905 as the Medical Missionary Association of India. In 1926
it was renamed the Christian Medical Association of India. Today CMAI is a
charitable, non profit. Christian educational society working for the promo
tion and the maintenance of health. It acts as the official health agency of the
National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and thus is related to a wide
network of Protestant and Orthodox Churches. At present member Institutes
are related to the following Churches: Assemblies of God. Baptists. Church
of North India. Church of South India, Lutherans. Mar Thoma, Mennonlte.
Methodist. Nazarene. Presbyterian. Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventists.
Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox. Orthodox Syrian etc.
CMAI now has about 300 Institutions (hospitals, health centres, community
programmes etc) and approximately 3000 individual members. It is regis
tered In Nagpur with its headquarters in New Delhi. There is a South Office
In Bangalore where the area office. Boards of nursing education and some
regional activities are coordinated. Its national assembly meets at a Biennial
Conference to review policies and programmes, set out priorities and to have
elections. In the alternate year sectional conferences for each health profes
sional group takes place. Regional, grass root and local activities are
organised by CMAI In the 12 regions throughout India.
BASIS:
"Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power and autho
rity to drive out all demons and cure diseases. Then he sent them out to
preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick". (Luke 9:1-2)
GOAL:
To serve the Church In India so as to equip, assist and encourage It in its
ministry of healing, health and wholeness.
OBJECTIVES:
Prevention and relief of human suffering irrespective of caste, creed, commu
nity, religion and economic status.
Promotion of knowledge of the factors governing health.
Coordination of activities for training doctors, nurses, paramedicals and
others Involved In the ministry of healing.
Implementation of schemes for comprehensive health care, family planning
and community welfare.
FUNCTIONS:
CMAI Is available to the churches and members in India to provide technical.
administrative and other support so as to build up their ministry and
capacity to serve our people.
Fellowship: Encouraging spiritual, professional and social fellowship for
members through retreats, conferences, workshops and special program
mes.
Education & Training: Supporting health professional training, formal and
non formal programmes, education of the public in health promotion and
maintenance and continuing education for members.
Assistance & Consultancy: Facilitating technical, financial and programme
assistance through specialised departments and staff.
Helping Churches: Seeks to help the churches rediscover and redefine the
mission of health, healing and wholeness.
Advocacy: Promoting policies and actions that help influence others on
Issues of social Justice, total well being and the building of healthy commu
nities.
CONTENTS
Foreword
Page
1
1.
The healing ministry
2.
Policy Statements on working with Churches
in the ministry of healing
5
3.
Policy and priorities
9
4.
Commitment to community health
12
5.
Fund raising
14
6.
Policy on assistance
16
7.
Guidelines for a Christian mission
hospital
19
8.
Guidelines for consultancy services
21
9.
Family planning policy
23
10.
Abortions
24
11.
Directions for developing student
activities
25
12.
Code of conduct for Christian doctors
28
13.
Code of conduct for Christian administrators
30
14.
Guidelines to mission hospitals for
implementation of rational drug policy
32
Guidelines for the implementation
of rational drug policies
34
Health Education and Communication
material
35
General Policies
38
15.
16.
17.
3
FOREWORD
'I'Ve have attempted to put together various policy documents
approved by the 'Board, (jeneral Body and/or Assembly in the
recent past. iVe make this booklet available for our members,
Churches, well wishers and partners, 'What do they say?'This is our
effort, as an Association, to set out goals, priorities, concerns,
strategy and directions at this time. This is not a substitute to our
constitutional and organisational mandate to serve the Churches in
India in the ministry of healing so as to contribute to making
health a reality for all people of India. 'These statements reaffirm
our commitment to health, healing and wholeness in the content of
justice, salvation and well being for all mankind.
C9dAI has a wonderful heritage, now over 85 years, offellozvship,
service, relevance, assistance and training. TVe inherit this tradition
which complements the compassion, commitment and care seen in
many of our institutes and members. 'We are proud of the signifi
cant contribution Christian health and medical workfas made to
the life of the Church and the service of humanity. 'We recognise
the enormous challenges and possibilities today. Together, with
(jod's help, we believe we can make a difference in and through our
mission of healing and wholeness. ‘We accept this as an integral
part of the mission and witness of the Church today and rededicate
ourselves, individually and corporately, to serve our Lord and 5{is
church in a ministry of healing and reconciliation and to the
building up of healthy communities.
Dr. Dai.eep S.Mukarji
February, 1992
Cj eneralSecretary
THE HEALING MINISTRY
THE ABUNDANT LIFE promised and proclaimed by Jesus Christ
is a new quality of life, the source of which is he himself, and it
is a free gift of God in him. The outward working of this life is
health, healing aid wholeness. Health in this sense is compre
hensive of the total person — physical, mental, spiritual and
social — making one whole, and not merely the absence of
disease. It extends further in restoring relationships between
God and man, between man and man, man within himself, and
between man and the whole of creation. This divine purpose for
individuals and communities is the ministry of healing or of
reconciliation. Such a wider and deeper understanding of heal
ing, health and wholeness is vital to the mission of the Church
in India. Therefore, we in the Christian Medical Association of
India affirm the following:
1.
Preaching, teaching and healing together comprise the total
mission of the Church.
2.
Healing, health and wholeness are God's intension for indi
viduals, society and for the whole creation.
3.
The healing ministry of the Church, therefore, announces
God’s work of SALVATION in Jesus Christ bringing whole
ness and justice to the world.
4. The local congregation has a central role in the Church's
healing ministry.
5.
In the Church's mission, there is a preference for and focus
on the poor, the oppressed, the most afflicted and the margi
nalised in society.
6.
All healing is from God. In the healing ministry of the Church.
Jesus Christ, in and through a congregation, institution or
health professional, is always the healer.
We believe that the biblical faith calls us. indeed commands us.
to a mission to proclaim the Gospel and to heal the sick. The
healing ministry is an integral component of the mission of the
3
Church in India and elsewhere. The Christian Medical Associa
tion of India — the health arm of the Protestant and the
Orthodox Churches in India — seeks to serve and support the
Church to rediscover and rededicate itself to this mission. It
challenges the Church to this wider understanding of health.
healing and wholeness, and to go beyond community health to
healthy communities. CMAI endeavours to participate in the
mission of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Greater Healer.
4
WORKING WITH CHURCHES
IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALING
POLICY STATEMENT
A.
Basis:
"Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them
power and authority to drive out all demons and cure
diseases. Then he sent them out to preach the kingdom of
God and to heal the sick" . (Luke 9:1-2)
B.
Purpose:
To serve the Church in India in their ministry of healing,
health and wholeness.
C.
Preamble:
CMAI was started in 1905 and has always been a fellowship
of Christian health professionals. Over the years it has
welcomed into the Association doctors, nurses, paramedi
cals, administrators and clergy. Since its inception CMAI has
maintained a relationship with the Churches, mission bod
ies. local Christians and the then National Christian Council.
In fact CMAI's initial office was with NCCI in the Nagpur
campus where its present registered office still stands. CMAI's
membership is now open to Christian health institutes. It
has in its network members from a wide spectrum of Protes
tant and Orthodox Churches. CMAI has always expressed its
desire, "in response to the love and command of Jesus
Christ” to be involved in various aspects of "prevention and
relief of human suffering".
CMAI is today a “charitable, non-profit Christian educational
society “ committed to work with and through the Churches
to develop and support their ministry of healing, health and
wholeness. Today CMAI is considered a related agency of the
National Council of Churches of India (NCCI). (quotations are
from CMAI Constitution).
5
D.
CMAI Mandate
This comes from various sources. As an independent, au
tonomous, registered. Christian, ecumenical, educational
and service association, it is from its members and the CMAI
constitution that CMAI gets official goals and objectives.
1.
CMAI is to "act as the health agency for the National Council
of Churches in India" (from the CMAI Constitution).
2.
Within the NCCI. CMAI is recognised as one of the official
related agencies with its specific area to be in health and
medical services. CMAI serves as the 'medical wing' of the
NCCI and there is a formal relationship between CMAI and
NCCI. The NCCI is the official ecumenical expression of the
Protestant and Orthodox Churches in India and thus CMAI
can be considered as the official health agency of the Protes
tant and Orthodox Churches in India.
3.
CMAI membership is open to all Christian health profession
als and health institutes (hospitals, health centres, commu
nity health projects and specialised health care service
units). This membership is voluntary, involves a regular
membership fee and expects active participation from mem
bers in the life, witness, growth and development of the
Association.
4.
CMAI provides a forum for dialogue, co-operation, co-ordina
tion and support as it seeks to assist the Churches in India
in various ways in their health and medical work. It is to be
noted that membership in CMAI includes many individuals
and institutes of churches who are not members of NCCI (eg.
Seventh Day Adventists. Assemblies of God. Brethren Mis
sion. Church ofNazarene etc). There is a separate network for
the Catholic Church, the CHAI, with which CMAI has fellow
ship and close co-operation.
E.
CMAI service to churches in the Ministry of Healing.
Essentially CMAI seeks to help the Churches build up their
capacity to serve our country and her people irrespective of
caste, colour, creed or community. In this process CMAI
wants to be available to and supportive of the Churches in
6
their ministry of healing in a variety of ways. This would
include :
a)
Enable a greater understanding of and commitment to the
ministry of healing, health and wholeness by making
available bible study and other material.
b)
Emphasis on human resource development by providing
specific training and continuing education programmes
for health professionals.
c)
Encouraging fellowship and common activities to share
experience, build relationships and nurture people for a
vocation in the healing ministry.
d)
Provide technical, administrative, educational and other
assistance when requested and possible.
e)
Create general awareness within the Churches, the
members and institutes about India's health needs.
innovative approaches to health and medical care and
new opportunities for service and witness in the healing
ministry.
f)
Work closely with the Churches at various levels, their
different official bodies and local congregations in strength
ening and supporting the Church in this ministry.
g)
Represent the interests of the Indian Churches and their
health and medical work with Government, specialised
bodies and agencies in India and overseas.
h)
Participate in medical boards, councils of health or re
lated management committees when invited.
i ) Facilitate relevant health education, communications
and educational material for Churches and members
through publicatiions. newsletters, journal and distribu
tion .sendees.
j)
To allow for greater cooperation, links and exchange
within India for the Churches and their medical work.
7
k)
To play an advocacy and networking role on specific
issues relevant to India, the Churches and members.
1)
Tobe available for any programme development, advisory,
consultancy or supportive role when requested by the
Churches in India in their ministry of the healing.
m)
To reach Christians beyond the formal Church and mis
sion hospital setup, especially those in government serv
ice. private practice and in other agencies so as to provide
support, encouragement and guidance in their ministry.
8
POLICY AND PRIORITIES
CMAI is a fellowship of Christian hospitals, health centres
and programmes and of Christian health professionals (doctors,
nurses, paramedicals, health and hospital administrators and
chaplains). It brings together about 300 institutes and about
3000 individuals in the name of Jesus Christ and committed to
his mission of health, healing and wholeness. CMAI is the
official Protestant and Orthodox health agency of the Church in
India, a related agency within the National Council of Churches
and concerned with promotion and maintenance of health of all
people irrespective of caste, colour, creed or community.
In response to the love and command of Jesus Christ to
preach, teach and heal, we are involved in making health a
reality for the people of India. We believe there is a real and
important dimension to health — spiritual well-being. We want
all people to experience this understanding of health as abun
dant life.
We appreciate that for many in India health is not a reality.
We are concerned with social justice in the provision and distri
bution of health services and believe people have an important
part to play in their own health. We want a better life for the poor
and weaker sections of our country. In this process we believe
in educating, motivating and sensitising the Church, Chris
tians, and more specifically Christian health professionals, to be
involved in these practical issues of health and wholeness.
CMAI wants to work with and for people so that there
maybe "Health for all". CMAI accepts both primary health care
and appropriate referral and training centres and hospitals in
its "BOTH AND" commitment to the health of the community
(community health). CMAI recognises that it is mainly the
Government’s duty and responsibility to provide health care
services, and yet we believe that voluntary agencies have a
crucial role to play in this process. CMAI emphasises its com
mitment to community health — an approach that takes into
consideration the needs and problems of the community and
begins with a strong community based primary health care
system.
9
Community health starts with people — the communityand is a process that recognises their right to health care. It
enables or empowers them to work together to promote their
own health and to demand appropriate health care sendees. It
encourages people to take responsibility for their own health
and to influence decisions that affect their future. It expects
health care services to be relevant, low cost, effective and
acceptable to the people. It supports a referral system and states
explicitly that there is a role and place for the hospital in
community health.
We expect Christian hospitals to be centres of corporate
witness and to be well known for their sense of dedication and
service. These hospitals must display quality care with compe
tence, compassion and commitment and yet be relevant to the
Indian situation. Hospitals should also be centres for training
and education for people at various levels and from various
backgrounds. They should support and complement ongoing
community programmes and various aspects of rehabilitation,
the prevention of disease and the promotion of health.
CMAI believes the healing ministry is the responsibility of
the whole Church. Thus it would support, encourage and par
ticipate in study and review on the biblical and operational
aspects of this mission. It can work with Churches, congrega
tions and others in new dimensions of healing and wholeness.
In keeping with our Lord's own purpose, CMAI would claim
that its goal is. "that they may all have life - life in all its
fullness”.
With this background and after some study of the needs
and problems in India. CMAI has set itself the following priori
ties.
1.
Leadership Development:
To prepare and challenge Christian health professionals to
a vocation in serving the Lord and making health a reality for the
people of our country. Thus people with competence and com
mitment need to be found, nurtured and encouraged in their
service. Human resources development of staff, students and
the community itself, becomes important.
10
2.
Community Health :
To create awareness, understanding and support for the
principles and practice of community health with special em
phasis on community based health care. In this context to work
closely within the health policy of the Government of India and
to give priority to the central and northern parts of India where
the needs and problems are greater.
3.
Helping the Church in Health and Healing :
As an official Church-related agency and realising that our
Lord's commission to heal is given to all, CMAI needs to work
within the Churches to help people participate in the healing
ministry. Health becomes a social justice issue and Churches,
congregations and Christian health professionals need to be
involved in building a society where justice, dignity, equality
and health abound. CMAI is committed to working with and
through the Churches in the ministry of healing and wholeness.
4.
Revitalising Hospitals and Health Institutions :
CMAI should help these institutions to regain their vision
and purpose, becoming alive to the changing environment and
working conditions. These centres need to be more effectively
and efficiently managed and to become resources for education
and service in the country.
5.
Building up CMAI :
As a Christian fellowship committed to making health a
reality in India, CMAI needs to build up its membership,
infrastructure, staff and resources for strengthening its service.
It can give direction and leadership in Christian medical work in
India. Manpower development and financial stability are crucial
areas of concern for CMAI itself.
6.
Giving Community :
CMAI and the Church should seek out ways to extend their
services to other countries and communities who may have
greater need. This concept of sharing our resources and exper
tise will ailow us to grow and to participate in international
fellowship and solidarity.
11
COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY HEALTH
1.
Community health is an approach to health care services.
It takes into consideration a philosophy, attitude and com
mitment of working with people to help them help them
selves. It is not a project, department or funding system.
2.
Community health focuses on the promotion and mainte
nance of health and gives priority or emphasis to the health
team, primary health care and community needs.
3.
Community participation is an essential component of
community health. This recognises the potential role of
others to help educate, organise, mobilise and support
community development activities where the people have a
say in and control over their own future. Community par
ticipation thus becomes involved in people's democratic
rights and their contribution to the development of their
society and nation.
4.
In community health there is a recognition of a three tier
system of primary', secondary and tertiary care appropriate
to the needs of the community and the resources available.
Therefore this approach accepts the role and potential of the
hospital as integral to the understanding of community
health. A commitment to community health is not neces
sarily anti-hospital. Yet the hospital needs to be supportive
of community health and to recognise and accept this wider
concern in health care services.
5.
In the provision of services in community health there is a
bias towards those who are oppressed, exploited, the poor
and the marginalised. Thus priority would be given to rural
areas and urban slums. Special groups for concern would
be women, tribals, dalits, small marginalised farmers and
landless labourers.
6.
The organisation of services under community health would
be appropriate, acceptable, easily available and affordable.
It would be cost effective and willing to use unskilled, semi
skilled, adequately trained local health personnel.
12
7.
There is a place for voluntary agencies in community
health.
8.
Community health accepts that health cannot be improved
by health services alone; health and development need to be
interlinked and interdependent.
9.
There is a place for appreciating local customs, traditions.
beliefs and health care systems and relating health services
to the culture and socio-economic situation of people. Ap
propriate indigenous medical practices and trained practi
tioners, or traditional birth attendants are encouraged in
community health.
10.
In the final analysis Community health is not apolitical. If
it concerns the welfare of people and the provision of ade
quate and appropriate health care then health becomes a
social justice issue. It is concerned with structures and
systems of society that seem to benefit a few at the expense
of many.
13
FUND RAISING
Introduction :
CMAI is the official Health agency of the Protestant and Ortho
dox Churches of India with a special relationship with the Na
tional Council of Churches in India. Its primary concern is to
serve the Church and its members in the ministry of healing,
health and wholness. In this process it gives emphasis to
fellowship activities, education, training, assistance and con
sultancy services and shares recources. when available, under
specific programmes of CMAI. CMAI is not a funding agency nor
an agency that channels funds for others. As an association
concerned about Christian health and medical work in India, it
works with its member institutes, structures of the various
denominational health or medical boards and the Church re
lated institutes or agencies. CMAl's staff, programmes and other
resources are for assisting the Church in healing and whole
ness. We have stewardship over these resources and want to use
them in the name of Jesus Christ to serve our country and our
members.
Principles:
With this background CMAI sets out certain principles on fund
raising to be a reference for future activities in this area:
1.
CMAI raises funds only for its own programmes under
policies and priorities set out from time to time. These are
used for fellowship, education, communications, advocacy,
training and assistance to members where appropriate.
2.
CMAI does not raise funds on behalf of its members/Churches
for their projects that they want followed up. CMAI may give
technical advice in the development of the project if re
quested.
3.
CMAI has a commitment to a Programme Development and
Advisory Service (PDAS) for its members. This can be in
project planning, proposal writing, monitoring, management
14
and evaluation. Consultancy services by its staff and mem
bers can be arranged. CMAI’s primary response in this area
is at the request of its members. CMAI can and does respond
to requests from resource agencies.
4.
CMAI does not want to be a channeling agency for funds.
5.
CMAI recognises and accepts traditional, bilateral and de
nominational linkage in health and related areas.
CMAI has no problems with this and where appropriate will
work with and through the structures and systems of the
Churches and members. CMAI suggests assistance in health
care in India be also seen from a national perspective and a
commitment to community health.
6.
In its programme of assistance and support, CMAI will give
priority to the poor, the underprivileged and the weaker
sections of the society. Emphasis will also be given to weaker
states, tribal communities and small Churches and institu
tions who have potential for service.
7.
CMAI seeks new models of partnership, assistance and
relationship in the Indian context and with international
agencies. Yet in allocating funds of CMAI it will make its own
decisions on the funds raised and distributed by it for
programmes approved.
8.
CMAI will make every effort for long term financial stability
for its core, essential and organisational activities. This
would include funds from members. Churches, Government.
endowments, investments and long term partnerships with
agencies in India and overseas. CMAI will emphasise its own
capacity building which should include the development of
staff, programmes, infrastructure, facilities and resources.
15
ASSISTANCE
CMAI has a mandate to assist and support the Church in India
in its healing ministry. Thus the resources to CMAI -staff, funds,
equipment, etc. - are a means to an end. CMAI assistance can be
in cash or kind and uses also the wider resources of its members
with their experience, expertise and facilities. This could in
clude consultancy services, training, scholarships, informa
tion. help with formalities, interpretation, project or programme
development, monitoring or evaluation. CMAJ's assistance is to
encourage, strengthen and enable the Church to new dimen
sions and challenges in its mission of health, healing and
wholeness.
There are certain guidelines, principlees and criteria set out by
the General Body or Board from time to time that govern
the process of assistance and support. These are summarised
below :
1.
CMAI assistance will be in the context of objectives, poli
cies. priorities and programmes of the Association as ap
proved by its members.
2.
CMAI assistance is primarily for our institutional and indi
vidual members. CMAI assistance is only available to Chris
tian agencies. Churches and church-related organisations
which are in the healing ministry are invited to become
members of CMAI.
3.
Requests for assistance must be made through the proper
channels and when necessary in the prescribed forms. All
requests have to be reviewed, screened and evaluated
before approval decisions are made. This is done through
the appropriate system of CMAI.
4.
CMAI seeks to work with and through the Church medical
boards, committees or councils of healing. It is the desire of
CMAI to strengthen these denominational structures and
systems so as to give support and direction to Christian
health and medical work.
16
5.
When funds or assistance are to be given formally, neces
sary agreements are to be signed by CMAI and the con
cerned agency or individual. CMAI will bear no liability for
staff, services or facilities enabled by CMAI assistance. The
member institutions are required to submit necessary re
ports, accounts, audit statements, etc., and to allow CMAI
staff to visit and see the work when necessary.
6.
All institutional recipients of financial assistance from
CMAI must be registered with Home Ministry (GOf) under
the FCR Act and fulfill the requirements under this Act for
funds received. CMAI will consider transfer funds through
a parent body registered under the Act if the member
institute is not registered.
7.
Criteria for selection of beneficiaries under various schemes
have been drawn up by CMAI. The following are priority
considerations for CMAI :
8.
a)
Weaker States : Essentially central, north and north east
areas of India.
b)
Rural areas.
c)
Institutions that primarily serve the weaker sections —
the poor, scheduled castes, tribals, women, slum dwell
ers, disabled — and when they can. help in times of
natural or other calamities.
d)
Smaller institutions with adequatee infrastructure and
potential to use assistance well.
e)
Smaller Churches and their institutions which do not
have easy access to funds and traditional partners.
f)
Institutions, programmes and projects involved in the
priority concerns of CMAI and those that enable it to
fulfill its functions and objectives.
CMAI staff are expected to be involved in selection of bene
ficiaries and follow-up of schemes of assistance through
proper monitoring, encouragement, evaluation and per-
formance review. Financial review is also necessary.
9.
CMAI assistance must be seen as capacity building so as to
strengthen the capability of the institute to carry on the
task and to be committed to the programmes. Infrastructu
ral development needs to be considered in order to enhance
the potential of the implementing institution to continue
the activities when CMAI funds and assistance cease.
10.
Assistance is only one function of CMAI and must be seen
in this context. CMAI is primarily a fellowship of Christian
health institutes and professionals. CMAI has other activi
ties and programmes and these assistance projects are to
help CMAI to influence and encourage the Church in its
health, healing and wholeness mission.
18
GUIDELINES FOR A CHRISTIAN
MISSION HOSPITAL
1.
The hospital should be an expression of witness, mission
and concern of the local congregation and the Church in the
ministry of healing and wholeness. This should manifest
itself in good relations betweeen Church and hospital with
understanding, support, mutual respect and concern.
2.
The life and service of the hospital should emphasise the
love of Jesus Christ who should be a very real presence
within the institute. It is in the name of Jesus Christ and for
his glory that the work is undertaken. The hospital should
contribute to the building up of the kingdom of God.
3.
Christian hospitals should be managed effectively and effi
ciently. There should be stewardship of resources and a
commitment to accountability.
4.
The practice of wholistic health services should be consid
ered in the care of patients, families and communities.
Wellbeing of the whole persons, body, mind and spirit is the
essence of care for patients. A chaplaincy service should be
an integral component of the hospital.
5.
Christian hospitals are recogniseed for their sense of com
passion. concern and consideration. Staff should be com
mitted to and in sympathy with the aims and objectives of
the hospitals.
6.
Teamwork, good interpersonal relationships and integrity
of service should be evident in the running and manage
ment of the hospital. Staff welfare and proper personnel
policies are important components of a larger human re
source development commitment.
7.
These hospitals must be centres of excellence, up to date
care and socially relevant. This would differ with circum
stances and the local environment.
8.
Hospitals are part of ongoing health care services. Both the
staff and management should be committed to community
19
health which recognises a role and place for the hospital but
supports and develops community based primary' health
care and outreach.
9.
In all services and training there should be a preferential
bias towards the needs and problems of the poor, the margi
nalised. the weaker sections and the care of the neglected.
10.
Christian hospitals must also be centres for training, re
search and innovative care. Education and training could
be formal and nonformal and should be part of a commit
ment to manpower development and helping people to help
themselves.
20
GUIDELINES FOR CONSULTANCY SERVICES
1.
Background
CMAI is committed to assisting the Churches in India in the
healing ministry of health, and wholeness. One of CMAI's
functions has been and will continue to be in consultancy
and advisory services. As the official health agency of the
Protestant and Orthodox Churches and related to the NCCI
(National Council of Churches in India) CMAI gets requests
in this area from members, churches, institutes, resource
agencies and others. CMAI has avoided becoming an agency
of donors, a funding agency, a channeling agency or one that
screens projects for resource agencies. CMAI wants to work
with its members. Churches, donominational structures
and Christian health agencies or institutes to help strengthen
support and give leadership in Christian health and medical
work. Within its staff and amongst its members there is
experience, expertise and commitment. These resources can
be channeled and used to help in this mission by the
consultancy and advisory services.
\
2.
Basic Reasons for these Services
To use the resources of CMAI, both within the staff and
amongst members, to help and serve the Church and our
country in the ministry of healing and wholeness.
b) To influence, support, strengthen and encourage Chris
tian health and medical work in India to seek out new
opportunities, improve relevant facilities and services
and be ofbenefit to the people of India, especially the poor,
the marginalised and the oppressed.
c) To facilitate some income for CMAI to help in its efforts for
financial stability.
a)
3.
Who could Use these Services
These services would be primarily for CMAI members. Churches
and church related agencies in health. Others could invite
CMAI to come and assist. CMAI would respond to requests
from overseas selectively and in the interests of its image.
resource agencies to help them when appropriate. CMAI will
be sensitive to the interests of members and Churches in
India and its own policy not to become a screening, funding
or channeling agency.
4.
How would these Services be Organised.
Requests would come to the General Secretary. These would
be considered according to policy, time and staff available.
Someday there may be a coordinator for these services. Some
essential points:
(i)
CMAI could use its staff (area office, sectional secretar
ies and heads of departments, etc.) or members.
(ii)
CMAI would expect travel, board and lodging to be fully
covered by the agency requesting this service.
(iii)
CMAI would charge a consultancy feee on a per diem
basis. This will depend on the nature of work, the time
taken, the agency requesting services and other factors.
(iv)
Staff involved in consultancy services do this under the
staff service rules.
(v)
All information, data, documents and research materi
als used in consultancy services and collected by staff or
other consultants shall be the exclusive property of
CMAI and the concerned institutions and not that of the
consultants.
(vi)
Specific contracts will be made with consultants who are
not staff.
(vii)
All consultancy is done within the context of the objec
tives. functions and policies of CMAI.
22
FAMILY PLANNING POLICY
1.
CMAI will continue its commitment to assisting and sup
porting its institutional members in the development and
implementation of their family planning services, empha
sising informed voluntary choice by the clients, in keeping
with Government of India policy on population stabilisa
tion.
2.
Specific areas of concern and priority :
a)
To integrate family planning services within an overall
community health approach with priority to community
based primary health care.
b)
To make special efforts to give priority to central and
northern areas and weaker institutions so as to assist
them to improve the family planning services.
c)
To emphasise the introduction and acceptance of
temporary measures especially to delay the first child
and space the second. This is to be done by a variety of
approaches including :
d)
(i)
Special training of CMAI staff and key personnel in
member institutions.
(ii)
Special education and mass communications pro
gramme coordinated by CMAI headquarters and
adapted to areas of India.
(iii)
Allowing for innovative micro-projects to reach
priority institutions with necessary' flexibility in
service and methodology to achieve results in fam
ily planning, especially acceptance of temporary
measures.
To consider the possibility of action research/study in
temporary measures and innovative approaches to family
planning services.
23
ABORTIONS
CMA1 recognises that in India, medical termination of preg
nancy (abortion) has been legalised by Government under
certain rules and regulations. People, professionals and insti
tutions, have often asked for a comment from CMAI and guid
ance on how Christian institutions should react to this issue.
CMAI encourages the Churches, its members and institutions
to initiate dialogue and discussions amongst staff, profession
als and others on abortion and the policy for the Church or
institution on the same. CMAI recognises that mission hospitals
are often under control and managed by various Protestant and
Orthodox Churches, and it is important for each Church to
make such a study and give guidelines to its members and in
stitutions. We advise our institutions where abortions are done
that no staff member be forced into this situation and service
without their consent and that adequate counselling, support
and follow-up be given to both parents where abortions are
desired. Abortions should not be an essential part of family
planning services or birth control. CMAI calls the National
Council of Churches in India, the various sections of the CMAI,
the Churches and others interested to continue to study, pray
and discuss this issue so that each individual and member
institution can develop their own policy on the same.
CMAI refuses to financially support staff, services and equip
ment that may directly be used for abortion. Whereas it educates
its members and others about the larger personal, medical,
ethical and social aspects of the issue, it would not give techni
cal education and guidance on how and when to perform
abortion. CMAI has not and will not use its staff or resources to
fund, assist, support, encourage or promote abortion. It can
assist its members and the churches to develop their own
policies in this area.
24
DIRECTIONS FOR DEVELOPING
STUDENT ACTIVITIES
A.
Target :
Christian health professional students studying in Chris
tian, government and other institutions.
B.
Aims :
1.
To lead students to a personal knowledge and experience of
Christ as Lord and Saviour.
2.
To expose students to the Christian understanding of heal
ing, health and wholeness and the Church's ministry of
healing in India.
3.
To make students aware of the needs and problems of India
with an orientation to the contemporary problems of illhealth, medical ethics and socio-economic inequalities.
4.
To present the healing ministry as a Christian vocation, thus
having an opportunity for students to be actively involved in
one of the formal avenues of the church’s commitment to
healing and wholeness.
C.
Method :
1.
Work along with existing structures as far as possible to
revitalise them and to open up a wider vision and fellowship
with the rest of India.
2.
Organise conferences and retreats locally, regionally and
statewise where there is a considerable collection of Christian
medical students, in order to exchange experiences and
share in fellowship with others.
3.
Organise work camps so as to expose health professional
students to the needs of the rural poor in India, to help them
get an understanding of the health and socio-economic
status of our country and to be concerned about the needs
25
and problems of the poorer, weaker and marginalised sec
tions of our society.
4.
Where possible arrange interaction between students of
medical and theological disciplines.
5.
Encourage mature Christian health professionals and CMAI
member institutions to develop pastoral concern for those
under training in government and secular institutions by
sponsoring a small number of students from those institu
tions.
6.
Produce literature and study materials to help in the growth
and nurture of health professional students.
7.
Plan for regular students' conferences at suitable places
where representative students can discuss issues of national
concern.
8.
Build relationships with simillar agencies like E.U., S.C.M.,
etc and plan joint ventures in student nurture and involve
ment in Christian witness as health professional students.
D.
Note :
1.
At present the student chaplain will work along with the
chaplaincy section, but will make full use of the personnel
resources of the other sections of the CMAI.
2.
By students we understand, medical, nursing and paramedi
cal trainees, though the most neglected area at present is the
medical students being trained in institutions other than
Christian. We will keep the vision and concern for all stu
dents in health professional training clearly before us.
3.
It also includes our concern for students under training in
Christian institutions. It may be necessary to orgainise
missions from these institutions to other centres and the
infrastructure of CMAI should be made use of for this
purpose.
26
B.
Conclusion :
The church has been putting in large resources in men and
money for the nurture of students in our prestigious medical
institutions, not realising that more of them who can be avail
able for developing personnel in mission hospitals are being
trained in institutions other than Christian ones. The major
thrust in healing ministry today has to be from outside the in
stitutional work the churches have developed. It should be
based in the local congregation and be concerned with all
aspects of health, healing and wholeness. As such, the nurtur
ing and development of student work is of paramount impor
tance to the mission of the Church for the future of India.
COMMUNITY HEALTH CEL
326, V Main, I Block
Koram&ngala
Bangalore-560034
India
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR CHRISTIAN DOCTORS.
“Your light must shine before people so that they will see the
good things you do and praise your Father in Heaven".
Mathew 5:16
1.
In my profession I will serve my Lord Jesus Christ and give
Him the glory.
2.
I am committed to daily prayer, participation in Christian
and church activities and constantly seeking God's will and
guidance in my life.
3.
1 desire to serve God by helping people, thus I will show
concern for the health of my patients, their families and the
society from which they come.
4.
My practice of medicine is in the context of the healing
ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ. In this I would be con
cerned with wholistic health care which includes physical,
mental, social and spiritual well-being.
5.
I will observe the highest ethical and moral standards in
medicine, in related areas of health care and in my personal
life.
6.
I will endeavour to always observe rational drug therapy in
what I prescribe and practice. I will not be influenced by
medical representatives, significant gifts or any other bene
fits in how I carry out my profession.
7.
I will not undertake any unnecessary, illegal or unethical
investigation, surgery, research or treatment in my work.
8.
I will build good relationships with my colleagues in the
health team.
9.
I will observe an appropriate simple life style and maintain
a concern for the poor, the weaker sections and the margi
nalised.
28
10.
I will endeavour to continually update my knowledge and
skills so that I can provide the best in health services of
which I am capable.
With God's help I pledge to observe this Code of Conduct.
29
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR
CHRISTIAN ADMINISTRATORS
Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world,
but let God transform you innwardly by a complete change of
your mind then you will be able to know the will of God - What is
good and is pleasing to him and is perfect (Romans 12 : 2)
This code is not a law but standards of moral behaviour. It
intends to guide the Administrator in attaining a high level of
competence in administration and management of health or
ganizations. The administrator commits himself to the following
standards on conduct.
1.
The Administrator shall be a Christian witness in his work
and individual life spending time in prayer, meditation on
the word of God and in fellowship with co-believers, always
seeking guidance from God in all he does.
2.
The Administrator shall constantly strive to develop his
professional knowledge and skills with the humility to learn
from others and channel his energies into those avenues
which best utilise his abilities. He will share his knowledge
with his colleagues in order to improve his colleagues skills
in administration and management.
3.
With the best interest of the patient, the community and the
institution as the ultimate goal, the administrator shall
perform his duties and responsibilities with deligence and
faithfulness, striving always for the better.
4.
The Administrator shall recognise the worth of each indi
vidual. respect the rights and beliefs of others and will not
discriminate against others because of caste, sex or creed.
5.
The Administrator will have the insight to develop a per
sonal philosophy in order that his individual goals be in
consonance with the institutional goals so that his life may
have more meaning and satisfaction.
6.
In public dealings and relationships with colleagues, the
administrator will behave with dignity, courtesy, and due
respect towards members of the health team.
30
7.
The Administrator will have the sensitivity in meeting the
needs of people as they work at accomplishing their jobs
and will never use his position, office or influence for selfish
personal gains.
8.
The Administrator shall work in a collaborative and co
operative manner with other health care professionals and
recognise and respect their particular contributions within
the health care team.
9.
The Administrator shall not yield to unlawful gratification
and favours and shall not be influenced by any person di
rectly or indirectly who may persuade him to do something
or abstain from doing something against the interest of the
institution.
10.
The Administrator shall adhere to the local and national
laws, rules and regulations enacted and amended by appro
priate authorities from time to time. He will make special
efforts for the implementation of such rules where ever
applicable.
Passed by Executive ofAdministrators Section in its meeting
on 7th May. 1991 vide minute no. 8.00.
31
GUIDELINES TO MISSION HOSPITALS
FOR
IMPLEMENTATION OF RATIONAL DRUG POLICY
1.
Obtain sanction from the Church Medical Board and the
Governing Body of the hospital for implementation of ra
tional drug concept and policies.
2.
Set up a formulary pharmacy and therapeutics committee
(hereafter referred to as The Committee').
3.
The Committee should review the CMAI formulary and
adapt it to local needs on the guidelines suggested. It
should also review the formulary once every year and
update it.
4.
The Committee should lay down policies for selection of
drugs, selection of supplier, placement of orders, use of ge
neric names etc.
5.
Hospitals should be actively involved in updating knowl
edge through continuing education by organising staff
seminars, internal meetings, workshops, exchange of visits
with other institutions etc.
6.
Institutions should train all levels of personnel (adminis
trators, doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health care
workers) in rational therapeutics either with local resources
or through courses organised by CMAI or any other moti
vated agency.
7.
Contact with representatives of drug companies should be
limited to very few individuals.
8.
Coercion of the hospital management into purchase of irra
tional medicines by employment of unethical means should
be prevented.
9.
Hospitals in the same region and/or under the same man
agement should take advantage of low cost drug distribu
tion units and explore possibilities for group purchasing.
32
10.
Hospitals should implement standard procedures for pro
curement, storage, inventory control, distributions and
record keeping.
33
GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION
OF RATIONAL DRUG POLICIES
Recommendations of the Study commissioned by CMAI on
drugs, equipment and supplies relate to the following areas :
1.
Education and awareness building amongst members and
public.
2.
Hospital formulary to be prepared and introduced.
3.
Better pharmacy management encouraged at all levels in
member hospitals.
4.
Rational drug newsletter to be initiated.
5.
Support already existing lowcost distribution units and de
velop necessary linkages for satisfactory supply of rational
medicines to member hospitals.
6.
Networking with other agencies in India and overseas on
issues concerning rational drugs, equipment and supplies
policies.
7.
Training of three groups of personnel - such as doctors,
business administrators and pharmacists.
8.
Data bank on rational drug therapy to be developed at CMAI
headquarters in consultation with others.
9.
Centralised purchasing and distribution centres on a re
gional basis.
10.
Facilitating quality control of medicines used by member
hospitals.
The CMAI Board (Dec. 1989) has generally approved these rec
ommendations to CMAI and has requested that the Association
give priority to education and awareness building in various
ways. CMAI should not be involved in centralised purchasing
and distribution centres directly nor should it establish a
quality control centre for medicines.
34
HEALTH COMMUNICATION
AND
COMMUNICATION ACTIVITIES
Introduction:
I.
Since 1905 CMAI has been involved in the publication of
text books, a journal, health education material and distribu
tion services. Today CMAI is regularly producing these commu
nications material for its members. Churches and a wider
public. It is necessary to review the process, clarify the purpose
and organise the systems for this important aspect of CMAI ac
tivities.
II.
Goals for the CMAI Communications Activities:
CMAI has a mandate to help assist and support the
churches in India in their ministry of healing, wholeness to help
build a healthy society. In this process CMAI is involved in edu
cation. awareness, training, technical assistance and fellowship
building activities. It seeks to strengthen the capacity of Indian
Churches to be effective in this ministry. With this background
CMAI affirms that communications is an integral and important
component of its activities. This complements and enhances
CMAI's intention to influence, orientate and sensitise the
Churches, members and the wider public to Christian concerns
in health.
Thus CMAI should establish a communications cell. It
should have the technical, managerial and ideological capabil
ity to maintain high standards, project CMAI’s image and
concern and support CMAI's other programmes. It needs to
work with all the staff involved, develop adequate systems and
allow for an optimum balance of centralisation and decentrali
sation.
CMAI's Communications Cell should provide:i)
Professional and technical backup for communication re
quirements of CMAI sections and activities.
ii)
Project and promote CMAI concerns.
35
iii)
Be an effective vehicle for the ideological and theological
thrust of the Church's healing ministry.
III.
Overall objectives for CMAI Health Education and Com
munication Activities:
1. To support CMAI educational and advocacy campaigns.
2. To complement CMAI formal and non-formal training
programmes.
IV.
V.
3.
To help sensitise the CMAI network about India's health
needs and to strengthen the Churches' involvement in
the healing ministry.
4.
To run this activity as an income generating programme
to help contribute to CMAI sustainability.
For whom is CMAI Health Education and Communica
tions Material intended:
a)
Primarily for CMAI members - health professionals, in
stitutes and programmes throughout India.
b)
For the churches - the Protestant and Orthodox Churches
for whom CMAI acts as the official health agency.
c)
For students, trainees and health professionals.
d)
For a wider public interested in health issues and
wanting to contribute to making health a reality for the
people of India.
What material will be produced and distributed:
Essentially CMAI will continue its present approach to produce:a)
Text books and educational material for students and
trainees.
b)
General health education and communication material
which will include brochures, posters, handbills, AV
36
aids including slides, videos and newer innovative material
when necessary.
VI.
c)
CMAI regular newsletters, reports, information sharing
and publicity material.
d)
Specific health education material on behalf of others
on agreed terms and to act as an information service on
health related communications material.
Steps to implement policy:
i)
Develop and strengthen CMAI communications team
with adequate resources, mandate and responsibility to
work with others and support CMAl’s goals.
ii)
To consider the appointment of additional staff and ac
quisition of supportive help subject to the approval of
appropriate authorities.
iii)
To purchase a DTP to help in the activities of the cell.
iv)
To make the necessary constitutional and organisa
tional changes to form a Communications Advisory
Committee to give overall direction to the activities of
the cell. The chairperson of this committee should
continue to be an office bearer.
To consider additional constitutional amendments to
protect the interests of CMAI and recognise the wider
role and function of communications.
v)
To be able to develop mailing lists, appropriate software
and systems to fulfill the various functions related to
communications policy and production including dis
tribution and supply of material.
vi)
CMAI shall not publish any material that comes under
the consideration of a registered newspaper.
vii)
To make CMAI more attractive, readable and useful to
members and churches. The present editorial policy is
acceptable but efforts need to be made get it to a wider
37
audience. This would include improvement of presenta
tion and layout, articles of interest to members, serials.
book reviews, interviews etc.
GENERAL POLICIES
(i)
On Advertisements from Drug Companies.
CMAI will not seek nor accept advertisements for the
journal, souvenirs, publications, conferences etc. from
drug companies. This is in keeping with our commit
ment to a rational drug policy and our desire not to be
influenced in any way by these companies.
(ii)
On Smoking.
CMAI observes a no smoking policy in its meetings.
workshops, offices and gatherings. We believe smoking
is injurious to health and would not encourage smoking
in any way. We urge members. Churches and hospitals
to also create no smoking zones and to publically sup
port a campaign to discourage smoking.
(iii)
On Capitation Fees.
CMAI strongly opposes the payment of money as fees,
donations and compulsory contributions that influences
the selection of candidates for training in health courses.
We ask our members to avoid any payment of such fees
in courses run by them and to come out strongly against
the concept of capitation fees'.
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