Hospice and palliative care should be included in the national health policy, speakers said at a programme yesterday.
They also said the inclusion should happen as early as possible.
The programme marking the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was organised by Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University’s (BSMMU) Centre for Palliative Care and Palliative Care Society of Bangladesh at the BSMMU auditorium in the capital. It was inaugurated by the BSMMU acting vice-chancellor, Dr Ruhul Amin Mia.
Professor Dr Nezamuddin Ahmad, a pioneer in introducing palliative care in the country, said: “The inclusion of hospice and palliative care in our national health policy and healthcare system is crucial but there is also the dearth of skilled manpower required for this.”
“For serving a population of 160 million, there are just a handful of specialists in Dhaka who have received training from abroad. We have only eight to ten domestic specialists in this field which means our healthcare infrastructure lags much behind,” he said.
Prof Nezamuddin said a mere five to six organisations now provide palliative care in Bangladesh.
“At present, a total of 30-40 beds are available for palliative patients at government and private healthcare facilities combined but we have already served 60 patients, with 45 of them being cancer patients.”
Gemcon Group Director Ameena Ahmed, one of the speakers at the programme, talked about her personal experience concerning palliative care and the importance of such care.
“We should focus on developing skilled manpower who can provide people with palliative care.”
Hospice Bangladesh chief Dr Shahinur Kabir said: “According to Bangladesh Cancer Society, a new adult cancer patient needs as much as Tk2.5 lakh per year for treatment but the actual picture is perhaps more terrifying. Due to many barriers, the majority of such patients fail to avail treatment.”
“According to oncologists, around 75% of cancer patients receive treatment in palliative settings but 30-40% of them are terminal patients. On the other hand, the incidence of stroke patients is five to twelve per 1,000 people per year, and 35% of them become permanently disabled or dependent on care-givers. There is no hospital to give them medical support on a regular basis,” he said.
“Without community involvement, establishment of such services is not possible."