MUSCAT, Aug 19 - Palliative care still remains insufficiently connected or integrated with the overall healthcare system in many parts of the world.
Prof Richard Harding from the Centre for Global Health Palliative Care, Cicely Saunders Institute, King’s College, London, said: “Only 10 per cent out of the 20 million people worldwide, who annually require palliative care, actually get it.”
Prof Harding was delivering the keynote address at the OPC Palliative Care Oman Seminar hosted by the Grand Hyatt Muscat here last week. Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al Saeedi, Minister of Health, was the chief guest at the event.
He stressed in his presentation that palliative care must become the core component of healthcare systems. “From terminal cancer care when it first began in 1950 it is now seen by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a system that improves the quality of life of patients.”
Elaborating further, Prof Harding said: Palliative care intends neither to hasten nor postpone death. But it does make a huge difference because allows end of life and terminally patients to live a fuller life and die with dignity in the midst of family and loved ones.”
Dr Ahmed al Saeedi, Minister of Health, commented: “With the increase in the ageing population in Oman, it becomes all the more necessary to give palliative care a large role to play within the healthcare system.”
The minister also spoke about a Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre is being built at Sultan Qaboos University funded by Royal Court Affairs. The project would also incorporate palliative care.
Maggie Jeans, tirelessly serving the cause of palliative care in Oman for many years, who addressed the gathering before the main event said: “In Oman, palliative care is still in its infancy and consequently many acute hospital beds are blocked by patients who would benefit from this specialised form of care with its many advantages.”
She added: “Palliative care is most often associated with terminal cancer but there are many other chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and end stage diabetes where palliative care is needed. In children there are congenital abnormalities and genetic conditions. It also has a role to play in the care of the elderly and particularly patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s.”
Maggie has been living in Oman for 28 years. “I came in 1990 with my husband, Bill Jeans, who had been appointed Professor of Radiology at the new Medical School at Sultan Qaboos University. In 2015, he was diagnosed with a rare untreatable sarcoma and many months later died peacefully at home in Oman.”
Dr Zahid al Mandhari from the Oncology Department at the Royal Hospital stressing greater involvement of community said: “Everyone should have some basic knowledge of palliative care, especially because end of life care works better in a home environment where family members play a vital role.”
Referring to the exemplary work being done by the Oman Cancer Association (OCA), a non-profit NGO working in the field of breast cancer prevention and awareness, Dr Al Mandhari said: The Oman Cancer Association is closely working with Ministry of Health and the Oncology Centre and is launching the ‘Bridging the Gap programme’, a day centre to support and rehabilitate the terminally cancer patients and members of their families so that they can comfortably be at home.”
He added that OCA had got together a multi-sectorial team to run the day centre and also follow up patients at their homes. Like all other OCA projects it will be run free of cost. Last year, Oman Cancer Association was awarded the Sultan Qaboos Award for Voluntary Service in Palliative Care.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
