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Herald Malaysia
26-05-2025
- General
- Herald Malaysia
Becoming a ‘learning church' in dialogue with Asian realities
What theologians need to do is to recognize the Canaanite woman in their midst and to let her speak May 26, 2025 Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila sprinkles congregants with Holy Water after celebrating Mass in an urban poor community in the Philippine capital. (Photo: George Moya / UCAN files) By Ruben C. Mendoza People are comfortable listening to familiar stories that they immediately notice whenever there is a seeming deviation from what they are accustomed to. In those moments of dissonance, something seems to be off or worse, 'wrong.' In the task of doing theology, particularly in my Philippine context, there is a particular need to listen to 'unfamiliar, dissonant' sounds. The dominant voice of theology — emanating from the Western center — speaks of realities that are vastly different from those on the ground. While some concerns share resonances, other questions and issues are very much different, emanating from the peripheries. Theologizing from the center seems to be concerned with maintaining the status quo of doing things and not rocking the boat. People on the fringes have a different voice — perhaps not mellifluous in the way that theologians have been trained to problematize such issues — but guttural and instinctive, yearning to be given the chance to be heard. Theologians of Asia need to disabuse themselves of thinking about and responding to First World problems, be they social, pastoral, or theological. The starting points of doing theology in Asia are not the concerns of people in the center. However, this is not to say that those issues are not important or unrelated to local ones, but to genuinely privilege the local. In my context, many of those who live privileged lives ask, 'Where will we go for dinner? What clothes will I wear? What latest mobile phone will I buy? Which car will I use? What kind of business will I establish? Where in the US or Europe will I study?' All of those questions presuppose that there are options available to the one asking the question, choices which ordinary Filipinos do not have. In contrast to those First World concerns, the ordinary 'Filipino everyman' or 'Filipino everywoman,' Juan and Maria de la Cruz, would ask, 'How will I feed my family? Will I be able to buy the clothes I need? What time do I need to get up in the morning, take the public transportation system, and be on time for work? Will I be able to send my kids to school? Why can't the Church accept my being a homosexual? Why are women not treated equally in the Church? When can I be divorced from my abusive husband and receive support from the Church and society? What happens when I get sick? What will happen to my children? Is it really God's will that I am poor?' If the Church is to be truly the 'field hospital' that the late Pope Francis desired it to be, then it is to such people that theologians need to listen and learn from. Instead of doing theology deductively, the challenge for theologians is to do theology inductively. It is for those in the margins that one needs to make sense of the Christian faith. I know that it is so easy to be numb and desensitized to those questions, so perhaps a more provocative question to raise is how theologians internalize the Christian faith so that they are authentically humble and hearers of other people's realities rather than imposing on them what they think is best for the poor, forgotten flock? That is why it is even more important that one keeps one's ear to the ground, listening openly and intently to the 'cry of the poor, the cry of the earth,' smelling like the sheep, to again use a metaphor that the late Pope Francis used, attuned to their needs and sensibilities. This, I think, is at the heart of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences' insistence on the need to engage in dialogue with cultures, religious traditions, and the poor. For a longest time, in the Asian context (and I suppose everywhere else), the Church has acted as a teacher. The Asian bishops insightfully recognized the need to learn from the various ways of life of their peoples, the need to be enriched by the teachings and practices of Asian religious traditions, and the need to listen to the voices of those on the margins. More recently, the Asian bishops, in line with Laudato Si' , have recognized the need to dialogue with our common home, a move away from a highly anthropocentric and androcentric understanding of creation. Listening and learning from the other is at the heart of becoming a synodal church. The challenge now is for the Church to continue the process that was started by Pope Francis, especially the spiritual conversations that have been initiated in the local churches and continue to be conducted. I know that it is easier to inhabit an echo chamber of comfortable theologizing and batting around the same ideas that are within one's expertise, which can give one a false sense of security. The task then is to be aware of one's presuppositions and preconditioning and to let the Word of God that comes from the other — others — to challenge one and perhaps to convert one to greater fidelity to that Word. What theologians need to do is to recognize the Canaanite woman (see Mt 15, 21-28) in their midst, and to let her speak and challenge their assumptions about God, faith and the Church. They need to let the faith of outsiders — the Esaus (see Gen 25-28.32-33.35), Tamars (see Gen 38), Rahabs (see Josh 2), Naamans (see 1 Kgs 5,1-19) and Ruths (see Ruth 1-4) in one's life — disturb them of their complacency and actually learn from them. In this way, one's theology grows from the people and is reflective of God's voice through God's children and our common home. Perhaps they are the poor whose voices from the peripheries are disturbing a more authentic
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Health
- Press and Journal
Football clubs across the north of Scotland unite in bid to raise £100,000 for new urological cancer unit
Football clubs across the north and north-east are coming together to support a new unit to improve the diagnosis and treatment of urological cancers. Charity UCAN Aberdeen, along with Friends of Anchor, is trying to raise £2.5million for the new Swift Urological Response and Evaluation (SURE) clinical unit at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary which would help speed up the diagnostic process for bladder, kidney, prostate, testicular and penile cancers. In a bid to help, north-east businessmen Mike Macaulay, Pat Machray and Ian Ord have come up with the Kick the Ball campaign, which aims to raise £100,000 and will see football clubs taking on a cycle challenge in the month of June. All 18 Breedon Highland League clubs are set to take part as well as every team that is a member of the Aberdeenshire and District FA, which includes nine Highland League sides plus SPFL outfits Aberdeen, Cove Rangers, Peterhead and Elgin City as well as junior clubs like Hermes, Dyce, Stonehaven and Aberdeen University. Each team will be taking on their own cycle challenge next month, either on the road or on spinning bikes, while world-record breaking cyclist Mark Beaumont is also supporting the initiative. On July 1 the man who broke the record for cycling around the globe will be accompanied by around 20 cyclists on a route around the north-east visiting some of the clubs taking part in the campaign. Later that day 'An Evening with Mark Beaumont' is to be held at Thainstone Exchange. Mr Macaulay and Mr Machray have both had prostate cancer, while Mr Ord has had prostate and testicular cancer. Explaining how the campaign idea came about, Mr Machray said: 'We've all had cancer and we've all had experience of UCAN. 'We wanted to give something back and, having heard about the SURE unit, we felt it was something we'd like to try to help get off the ground with a fundraiser. 'We're also hoping to raise awareness and encourage folk to go and get checked as well because with Ian, Mike and myself none of us had symptoms. 'It seems to be the case with a lot of people that there's no symptoms, so trying to encourage people to get checked is very important. 'The point of the whole exercise, and of the SURE unit, is for folk to get diagnosed earlier, because the earlier you find it the better.' Mr Ord, who will be taking part in the cycle with Mr Beaumont, added: 'UCAN has a history of pioneering. They brought robotic surgery to Aberdeen, which dramatically changed how you're treated. 'The new unit would set a new benchmark for the whole of the UK, it would be the first place of its kind. 'UCAN's ambition in terms of what they want to do is incredible, so to be able to help provide the means to do that is great.' Mr Macaulay, who is the chairman of Highland League side Inverurie Locos, has been thrilled with the reaction from clubs. He said: 'The response from the clubs has been brilliant. Nobody in the Highland League or the Aberdeenshire FA has said no to getting involved, which is great. 'We're hoping the clubs will involve their communities in it as much as they can. 'Football clubs are a big part of the community and this is an important thing for every community in the region. 'It's also great to have a world-record breaker in Mark Beaumont supporting us. He's sponsored by John Clark Motor Group and we asked Christopher Clark (managing director of John Clark Motor Group) if he could ask Mark about supporting this and he's been enthusiastic about helping us from the get-go.' Justine Royle is chair of UCAN, and also a consultant urologist, she called the Kick the Ball campaign a 'lovely idea' and outlined the benefits the SURE unit – which it is hoped can be up and running in 2026 – will provide to cancer patients. She said: 'At the moment the diagnostic process for urological cancers takes longer than we would like. 'Patients have to attend multiple consultations. Take prostate cancer as an example, they might come for an MRI scan one day, a biopsy a couple of weeks later and then a consultation and other tests after that. 'It can be four trips to hospital within the diagnostic process. 'If we can get rid of at least a couple of those, for example, having your MRI, biopsy and a consultation all on the same day that's a real benefit to patients because you reduce a lot of the waiting. 'One of the things patients will tell you is that the most anxiety provoking thing is the waiting to find out. 'It's not the diagnosis, it's waiting and not knowing what you've got. 'So if we can shorten that process then that anxiety will be reduced. We want to get the patient where they need to be faster than we're currently able to do. 'With the SURE unit our capability will be increased and we'll be able to do more on a day when a patient comes to us.'
RTÉ News
10-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
What is causing delayed access to new cancer medicines?
Few areas of healthcare are as sensitive as cancer treatment. Each year, around 44,000 cancer tumours are diagnosed here and patients may need a mix of surgery, radiotherapy and medicines. Survival rates vary, depending on the type of cancer and how early it has been detected plus the speed of access to treatment. This week saw claims from the organisation that represents the inventors of prescription medicines, that Ireland has the lowest availability for new cancer medicines in Western Europe. The Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA) said that just one in four new cancer treatments licensed since 2020 is currently available here in the public system. The HSE countered that many of the delays for approval are down to the drug firms themselves, not making a formal application for the drug to be covered for public patents, or delays by them in submitting vital paperwork on the cost and effectiveness of new drugs. So, it is the patients that can be caught in the middle of this battle. The State bill for medicines continues to grow rapidly, and last year it paid out over €3.4 billion for drugs. Campaigners for patients, the United Cancer Advocates Network (UCAN) said there is no early access scheme here for new drugs, so Irish patients are forced to wait for a full assessment of the new medicines and for negotiations with drug companies to take place on price. Miriam Staunton, Chairperson of UCAN, said there are many patients impacted by the lack of access, some of whom may not even be aware that they are missing out on life saving and life extending medications. The group has called for an investigation of early access schemes, a review of the drugs reimbursement process and a more coordinated approach at European level. Campaigners also want to see investment in innovative and breakthrough treatments and the implementation of the recommendations of a consultancy report by Mazars in 2023 on the HSE's drugs reimbursement process. That report said there was room for improvement in the transparency of the process plus better communications and information to patients. The review also recommended access to an online system for the public and industry to track the progression of medicines through the approvals process. The HSE said that in relation to the cancer drugs cited by IPHA, around 40% have a pricing and reimbursement application ongoing, with many having significant delays on the side of the pharmaceutical company. Oliver O'Connor, Chief Executive of IPHA, said this week that of the cancer medicines that have been authorised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), since 2020, only one in four are now available in Ireland. He said this is very low compared to other Western European countries and below the EU average and represents a poor performance for Ireland. Mr O' Connor said that patients could do better if more medicines were available here faster. The current agreement between the State and drug firms represented by IPHA on the pricing and supply of medicines runs out in September. IPHA has been in touch with the Government about this. The industry says that a new agreement can be the vehicle to deliver faster and fairer access to new medicines. IPHA points to a law passed in 2013 that the HSE should be making decisions on new medicines within 180 days and the industry wants to see a new system put in place so that this happens. This would mean medicines becoming available around a year earlier than they currently are. For the State's part, it has to ensure that any new drugs that are covered under the public system are value for money, at the price sought by the drug company, and that they also represent an advance in treatment. This is often not the case, according to Professor Michael Barry, Clinical Director of the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics. It does the assessments that feed into the HSE decision group that decides if new drugs should be covered. Prof Barry said that the IPHA report this week talks of delays in access to cancer drugs of around 468 days on average. But he pointed out that what the report does explain is where those delays occur. Prof Barry said that over 50% of the delays are due to the pharmaceutical companies themselves for several reasons. One of the these is that the company does not submit a pricing and reimbursement application to the HSE and the HSE cannot cover something if there is no application. He said that when the HSE seeks an economic evaluation and dossier, it often takes over half a year to receive it. A further delay is also often due to the length of price negotiations. "I find it interesting that a lot of the delays that are mentioned are down to the pharmaceutical industry themselves, and not to the HSE," Prof Barry explained. He said there was no mention of value for money in the drug companies report on delayed access to medicines. Prof Barry added that many of the drugs either do not prolong life, or do not improve the quality of life. He also noted that the new medicines concerned are often launched earlier in larger countries, like Germany, Italy and Spain, where maximum profits are to be gained. So, he believes that the delay can also be the delay in launching in Ireland, which he says is an important point. For this reason, Irish patients may be disadvantaged by the fact they live in a small country. There is an irony in that, given this country is such a major producer of pharmaceuticals. IPHA argues that the European Medicines Agency (EMA) does a rigorous assessment for the licensing of medicines and that Ireland should be able to rely on that. Oliver O'Connor said that companies are launching and making applications for medicines and IPHA would like it to be at 100% and will work towards that. IPHA says the data from the European Pharmaceutical Industry (EFPIA) published this week shows that Irish cancer patients continue to wait almost two years or 644 days, post EMA authorisation, to access newly licensed medicines. This it says is 55 days longer than last year, and above the EU average of 586 days. The industry says that the overall time to make a medicine routinely available in Ireland has lengthened significantly since 2020, when it took 477 days. In the study, other Western European countries analysed with higher rates of availability included: Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, France, England, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland. For drug firms, there are obvious commercial dynamics at play also. Patients and patient campaign groups putting pressure on the HSE and the Government for access to new cancer medicines add to the burden. This is especially true when price talks are underway and patient case studies of people waiting desperately for perhaps life-saving drugs appear in the media. For the State's part, health funding is not infinite, and it must manage the drugs bill. Money spent in one area of the health system, means it is not available for another area. For example, if the new anti-obesity and weight loss drugs were made available to all who might benefit here, the annual bill faced by the State would increase by €10 billion. Experts say that some new drugs billed by the industry as 'Gamechangers' do not live up to the hype. They may offer a limited improvement on existing treatments or turn out to offer the same benefit as existing drugs, so-called "me too" medicines. Often in the media, we hear of 'promising' progress in early clinical trials on potential new drugs, but after full trials on patients, the hoped-for major advance does not materialise. Medicines are big business and many of the companies are on the stock exchange and positive reports on potential new treatments can boost share prices. There is a lot at play in this complex health area. However, in the end, it is only through objective clinical trials that we can know if a drug works or not, and whether the benefits for patients outweigh the side effects. Then it comes down to the price sought for the medicine. Developing and testing potential new medicines is very costly. Many potential drugs do not make it to market. Drug firms are entitled to a reasonable return on their investment, but who decides what that should be? Patients also benefit greatly if they can access, in good time, new drugs that can extend life and even save lives. The State has to be mindful that new drugs are safe, effective and value for money, within a finite budget.
RTÉ News
07-05-2025
- Health
- RTÉ News
Ireland has lowest availability for new cancer medicines in Western Europe
Ireland has the lowest availability for new cancer medicines in Western Europe, according to the Irish Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association (IPHA). Only one in four of 56 new cancer treatments licensed since 2020 are currently available in Ireland, the association said. The organisation has cited new data from a study for the European pharmaceutical body EFPIA, which shows that patients in Ireland continue to wait longer than their peers in most Western-European countries to access life-enhancing new medicines. The survey of 36 European countries, including 27 in the European Union, covers the full four years between 2020 and 2023, analysing 173 innovative medicines authorised for use by the European Medicines Agency. Of the 56 oncology medicines which were granted a European Medicines Agency (EMA) licence since 2020, only 14, or 25%, are currently available in Ireland. Almost two-year wait for access Cancer patients in Ireland continue to wait almost two years or 644 days, post-EMA authorisation, to access newly-licensed medicines. This is 55 days longer than last year and above the EU average of 586 days, according to Oliver O'Connor, the IPHA Chief Executive. He said that a new framework agreement this year with the State can be the vehicle through which to reform the reimbursement system to deliver faster and fairer access to new medicines. The current agreement is due to expire in September. The United Cancer Advocates Network (UCAN) said there is no early access scheme here, so Irish patients are forced to wait for full assessments and negotiations with drug companies to take place. It said that that many patients here are affected by the lack of access and some may not be aware they are missing out on life saving and life extending medicines. It wants an investigation of early access schemes, a review of the drugs reimbursement process and a more co-ordinated approach at European level. UCAN said the situation in Ireland had disimproved since the last data on waiting to access innovative medicines was published. Other Western European countries analysed for the study with higher rates of availability include: Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, France, England, Denmark, Finland, Belgium, Scotland, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, Iceland.
Yahoo
03-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ford directed more funding to nonprofits tied to alleged scheme
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — WREG Investigators are uncovering new information related to the nonprofits allegedly tied to Shelby County Commissioner Edmund Ford Jr.'s federal indictment. According to county records, Ford tried directing even more money to the organizations on other occasions not listed in the indictment. Commissioner Ford turned himself in Friday for his alleged scheme. According to the federal court records, he is accused of directing taxpayer dollars to certain nonprofits and those nonprofits would then reportedly buy computers from Ford's company or funnel funds into his business or personal bank accounts. The indictment doesn't name the nonprofits involved, but Your News Leader matched the info detailed in the indictment to commission meeting minutes and agendas. We found three nonprofits that seem to match: Prime Time Parenting, Memphis Women Aiming High, Inc. and UCAN of Memphis. Non-profits made thousands off Commissioner Ford alleged scheme The mission of all three is to help youth in some way. The indictment suggests Ford helped those nonprofits get hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of grants. There were even more times Ford directed funding to those nonprofits in question that were not listed in the indictment. 'One deals with Prime Time Parenting in the amount of $75,000 from the education fund,' Ford stated at a commission meeting in June 2022. Ford made a motion to amend the budget at that meeting and allocate the money to Prime Time Parenting. It ultimately passed with the budget, meaning it didn't have to get further contract approval. During the FY24 budget discussions, it seems he tried to do it again. This time the resolution he sponsored was for $100,000. It passed during the committee meeting, but the next month, Ford stated he would take it off the list to help balance the budget. 'Even though I found the funding source, as I always do, I'm willing to give that one up to vote on the other ones,' Ford said during the June 2023 full commission meeting. Commissioners also have access to the Community Enhancement Grant Program. On the county's website, it explains that basically they each have access to 'funds to allocate within their individual district to nonprofits' as well as 'other governmental and quasi-governmental agencies.' Ford accessed those funds in June 2022 and May 2023, according to the minutes we found, giving UCAN of Memphis a combined $10,000. In 2022, UCAN stated in its application the money would be used to provide 'workbooks, supplies, professional speakers, laptops, padfolios, blazers and pearls for male and female students.' In 2023, it stated the funding would pay for 'educational and recreational field trips, school supplies , programming, staffing development, student professional development, student incentives' Federal authorities, again, haven't named any organizations and haven't said anything about the additional grants we found. Your News Leader did reach out to the nonprofits allegedly involved but haven't heard back. The state's website states UCAN reported $111,000 in total revenue last year and Prime Time Parenting reported $15,000. We are still trying to find financials on the third nonprofit. Ford's attorney defended his innocence Friday. His father, Edmund Ford Sr., was also present. 'God is good all the time, and y'all will be surprised,' Ford Sr. said. 'My son is very good, very great person. When you try to do things for the community and things like that, you get bad people always focusing on that good person.' Ford is also accused of not reporting any income he received on his taxes. He is due back in court later this week. Monday morning, Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris announced a meeting will be held this week with 'relevant legal authorities and county officials' to figure out the next step. He added in part, 'Considering these allegations of criminal corruption, it is appropriate for the Commission to stop Commissioner Ford from additional grant-making and participating in the County grant-making process while the prosecution is on-going.' Mayor requests pause on Ford's grants amid prosecution Commissioner Mick Wright is also calling for change. In a statement on Facebook, he said he spent the weekend reviewing records related to the commission's grant program. He added, 'We need reform and enhance the county's technology and data processes so the public can easily access records.' He said he will be working to restore public confidence in county government by providing an accounting of his participation in the program, supporting reforms to the program, advocating for better technology and data sharing processes and maintaining an open door policy with citizens and media. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
