KUALA LUMPUR: Palliative care must be made more accessible at all levels of the healthcare system so that everyone will be able to receive palliative care when diagnosed with a serious health problem.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said for this to happen, the healthcare professionals should have basic awareness on how to recognise patients in need of palliative care.

“Every Malaysian deserves to receive palliative care that is of high quality and acceptable to the ethical standards of healthcare in the nation.

“It will require participation and contributions from much more than what is provided by formal healthcare services alone,” he said during his welcoming speech at Hospis Malaysia gala dinner here Friday (Oct 14).

Themed “Healing Heart and Communities”, the biennial charity gala dinner marks Hospis Malaysia’s 30 years of service to the nation with the hopes of improving the accessibility of palliative care for the country’s population.

Hospis Malaysia, a charitable organisation, was established in 1991. The organisation provides domiciliary palliative care, rehabilitation sessions, outpatient palliative care and 24-hour emergency call service.

Khairy said the goal of palliative care was to provide the best quality of life for the patient and their family, which includes all types of patients and diseases.

“The patient deserves the best quality of care. This is where in society, you can play your part,” he said.

Emphasising on community palliative care as an essential component of the integrated palliative care service, Khairy said it provides continuity of care to patients once discharged from a hospital.

“Community services help patients to remain at home for longer periods and help to reduce the need for emergency admissions to the hospital,” he added.

Khairy said community services also help provide confidence to families to care for loved ones in their preferred place of care. – Bernama