Development of palliative care in Ukraine 2008 [Новость добавлена - 08.02.2009]

According to WHO definition (2002) palliative care is an approach, which helps to improve the life quality of those who face incurable disease, respectively of their family members. In the course of 2008 information on hospice care movement in Ukraine had been analyzed, and the main actors who play a crucial role in palliative care development were identified. The analysis of legislation concerning end-of-life care was continued. Special attention was paid to usage of opioids (pain management). Recommendations for its improvement were developed. The Coordination Council (steering committee) on palliative care was created by Ministry of Health in Ukraine. The objectives of the Council: development of palliative and hospice care system in Ukraine, development of a relevant governmental program, coordination of palliative care providers in Ukraine, improving legislation, training the staff, development of a hospice network and raising awareness in the society on these issues. The Council unites key figures: representatives of the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Family, Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, of patient organizations, voluntary organizations, churches. Co-chairmen of the Council are Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Zynovy Mytnyk and Prof. Dr. I. Gubsky. In the period between April-October 2008 the Coordination Council On Palliative and Hospice Care with the support of the Association of Palliative Care and the International Renaissance Foundation developed the palliative care development concept (for 2010-2014). Also the event plan with approximate budget was elaborated. The documents were approved by the Ministry of Health, supported in general by the Academy of Medical Sciences, by different ministries, and returned to the Ministry of Health for further improvement. In July 2008 the Institute for Palliative and Hospice Medicine, the governmental institution for palliative care development within the structure of Ministry of Health was created. This is a basic scientific and clinical facility of the Ministry of Health on palliative and hospice care issues. Prof. Dr. Iury Gubsky was appointed as Director of the Institute. The Institute assumed the aims to coordinate the preparation of the governmental program of palliative care development in Ukraine, improve relevant legislation, train the staff, develop and control relevant protocols and guidelines. A campaign for raising awareness on palliative care was launched. Cooperation with local, national and international mass-media started. In 2007 and 2008 in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy the campaign was completed. Ten regional branches of the Association of Palliative Care participated. Concerts, round table discussions, conferences, and other mass events were organized. In cooperation with the state faculty of Scientific Geriatric Center and the Institute of Palliative Medicine (Hospice of San-Diego, USA) the educational program for medical workers was elaborated. This program is the first educational curriculum in Ukraine which can be used to train specialists in palliative care. On November 3-20, 2008 the workshop was organized according to the program with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and Open Society Institute. Following the training, 32 future trainers on palliative care obtained certificates, which were handed over by the Deputy Minister of Health. Four regional task forces (coordination councils, steering committees) on palliative care were established. Their main goal is to create relevant local programs and develop palliative care on regional (local) level. The number of in-patient hospice beds in Ukraine increased to 80 beds. The work on establishing hospice in 8 regions started. One of the most important elements in palliative care advocacy is cooperation with mass-media. Last year about 40 publications on palliative care were issued. Also, in September the national campaign "Dying with dignity" was launched in cooperation with different national newspapers. International experience in palliative care provision was reviewed and studied, which provided a basis for calculating a budget for meeting the technical and financial needs of the governmental palliative care program. As far as study tours abroad are concerned about 20 medical workers and public health decision-makers attended international trainings. Thanks to these activities the number of palliative care facilities is increasing. In 2002 there were 400 in-patient beds in 12 palliative care facilities; in 2007 – 550 beds in 18 facilities; and in 2008 – 600 beds in 19 facilities. Ministry of Health of Ukraine Institute of Palliative and Hospice Medicine All-Ukrainian Association of Palliative Care All-Ukrainian Council for Patient Rights and Safety Prepared by Alexander Wolf, Secretary of Coordination Council on Palliative and Hospice Care (advisory board within the Ministry of Health in Ukraine) Phone: +38 097 14 17 456, + 38 044 594 02 78 E-mail: alexander@tb.org.ua

The Palliative Care in Central and Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union Countries Monthly Email Newsletter Vol.V. No.1. January 2009