DOHA: About 45 percent of total patients admitted to National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), part of Hamad Medical Corporation’s (HMC) network of specialist hospitals, were cared under its Supportive and Palliative Care Program during the last 10 years.

The remaining 55 percent availed other inpatient services at the NCCCR, according to the data released by the HMC for the period between August 2008 and June 2018.

The total number of patients admitted to the NCCCR and those sought palliative care has varied each year during the last 10 years.

In 2008, about 20 patients were admitted to NCCCR and most of them were accepted for the Supportive and Palliative Care Program. In 2013, around 75 availed palliative care among 120 patients. This year in the first six months, approximately 50 patients were admitted to NCCCR and 40 of them were accepted for its Supportive and Palliative Care Program.

Palliative care is a care provided for people who have a life-limiting illness and for whom the primary goal is quality of life. Palliative care takes a holistic approach to address the full spectrum of a patient’s needs, from the physical and emotional to the spiritual and social.

Supportive and Palliative Care Program aims to maintain an optimal quality of life for patients and caregivers.

“The program prioritises patients with late-stage disease, identifying those who may need immediate assistance and accepting referrals for symptom control and psychological support for both patients and their families. The program also provides advice on the direction of care and assistance in communicating difficult medical information,” said Dr Azza Ibrahim Hassan, Senior Consultant, Oncology at NCCCR and Director of the Supportive and Palliative Care Program, recently.

The Supportive and Palliative Care Program provides an unparalleled model of multi-disciplinary collaboration, working closely with medical oncology, hematology and radiotherapy departments across the NCCCR.

NCCCR recently obtained re-accreditation of its Supportive and Palliative Care Program by the Joint Commission International (JCI). It was initially accredited in 2012, followed by a second re-accreditation in 2015. The JCI accreditation acknowledges compliance with the highest standards at hospitals.

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