Dear Colleagues,

Let me inform you about our further steps in direction of development of palliative care in our country.

The Association takes active part in a project began on January in 2008 for initiatives of All-Ukrainian Council for patients rights and safety. The project is entitled «Experience exchange between Ukraine and France for the humanizing of medical and social services to the citizens of Ukraine». In the frameworks of the project, development of changes to the Ukrainian legislation which regulates rights of patients, mutual relations of the state and church in the field of providing medical services, development of palliative care (care for incurable patients) is planned. A project is supported by Embassy of France in Ukraine and by Protestant Federation of France. Also, to the realization of the project Ministry of health, Ukrainian orthodoxy church and All-Ukrainian Association of palliative care are actively attracted.

A working visit of Ukrainian delegation to Georgia took place on January 23-29, 2008. Seven representatives of state, public and church organizations visited Tbilisi and Batumі (Republic of Adjara) for discussing the possibility of collaboration in the field of new legislation, concerning access to opioids, future collaboration in the field of palliative care providing and safe public health development. A question concerning pain management is one of the most essential, as it is known that no less than 20-25 % patients which have the incurable diseases suffer from pain. However the Ukrainian legislation, unfortunately, remains bad both for citizens and medical workers.
During meeting in Georgian parliament, in which the First Lady of Georgia Sandra Rulofs, numerous deputies and representatives of Georgia government took part, it was agreed about the collaboration and mutual assistance in this sphere.

The Round table «Development of palliative care in Ukraine: availability of pain management and оpioids turnover» took place with the support of Ministry of Health on February 15, 2008. The participants were: Minister of health protection V. Knyazevich, first Minister’s deputy M. Prodanchuk, representatives of Ministry of Labour and social policy, Ministry of internal affairs, public and religious associations representatives. As a result of round table it was decided to acknowledge importance and actuality of the Interdisciplinary Task Force (working group) on the improvement of legislation on medical and social care, created in accordance to Order of MoH #201 issued on 06.07.2006. The Interdisciplinary Task Force has 3 Co-Heads which present MoH, Міnistry of Labour and All-Ukrainian Council for patients rights and safety.

It was decided it is necessary to extend composition of the Task Force and to invite representatives of other ministries and stakeholders and continue the advocacy, informational, raise awareness campaign on palliative care.

The Minister V. Knyasevych marked priority of palliative care development in Ukraine. So there is “political will” for development of palliative care in our country.

We will be very grateful for your suggestions concerning palliative help development in Ukraine.

Please send them to
Mr. Alexander Wolf
or
Palliative care program director
All-Ukrainian Council for patients rights and safety, All-Ukrainian Association of palliative care