Since then, much has taken place and as a society, we can take some solace in that palliative care has taken root in our healthcare systems.
Fast forward to 2016, and palliative care is available in some government hospitals, communities and taught in some universities.
We have a National Adviser for palliative care at the Ministry of Health, most of the essential drugs for pain and symptom control are available, a few doctors are recognised as specialists in the Ministry of Health and Malaysia sponsored a palliative care resolution at the World Health Assembly.
Over the past 25 years or so since palliative care was introduced to the country, some patients have received good palliative care but many have not. In that time, many have been diagnosed with cancer and other debilitating illness and suffered from pain and other symptoms.
People have died, children have grown older and a younger social media dependant generation has been fostered on society.
Due to the lifestyles we have chosen and for other reasons, many in our society are at risk of being diagnosed with a debilitating disease in 2016.
So what if you or your loved one needs palliative care today?
Our media typically brings out articles on what palliative care is (mostly at a superficial level).
The Ministry of Health may inform us about the number of doctors, location of services and drugs available in connection to palliative care. Is this sufficient to guide us when care is needed?
For a baby born today, within 25 years, he or she would have matured and hopefully have graduated and entered the workforce. In the 25 years or so that palliative care was ‘born’ in Malaysia, has this area of care matured?
Are we responsible for the care that we receive? If we are, what should we do about it? If we take the big brother stance, then the government should act in our interest. Palliative care is the most important healthcare issues that affects us when a loved one is suffering.
There are some questions that we should start addressing now.
So, if I need palliative care tomorrow:
- Will the doctor that sees me be competent in understanding me, my care preferences and relieve my suffering?
- Will the nurse and other health care workers that I see, respect me as a person and not simply as a disease?
- Will the doctor and palliative care workers be able to negotiate my goals of care with me and my loved ones and provide me with all the information I need?
- If I choose to stay home, will my suffering be attended to and be relieved?
The World Health Organisation’s resolution on ‘Strengthening of palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course‘ calls for participating countries to integrate palliative care into their national health systems.
After 25 years of palliative care in the country, it would be good if Malaysians were informed about what care they could expect today and the months and years to come, wherever they reside in the country, in hospitals and at home.
For adults and children with life limiting illness and their caregivers, just knowing what palliative care is, is not enough. They need to know that their pain and suffering will be relieved, psychological, social and spiritual needs be addressed and that help is at hand wherever they are.
This article originally appeared in The Malay Mail Online. It is republished with permission from Hospis Malaysia.
Leave a Reply