Vice-chancellor of the Bangladesh Medical University Professor Dr Md Shahinul Alam at a seminar at the BMU in Dhaka on Sunday emphasised on ensuring improved palliative care in line with international standards, as well as expanding palliative services and research.
He made the remarks at the international scientific seminar on 鈥榩alliative care 鈥� an integral part of caring the sick: the empathy, caring and curing鈥� at the Super Specialised Hospital at the BMU, said a press release.
Presided over by dean of the faculty of medicine Professor Dr Md Shamim Ahmed, Professor Dr Syed Md Akram Hossain, chairperson of the department of clinical oncology, was present as special guest at the seminar.
The welcome address was delivered by Professor Dr AKM Matiur Rahman Bhuiyan, chairperson of the department of palliative medicine while the vote of thanks was given by specialist haematologist in the United Kingdom Professor Dr Amin Islam.
Professor Dr Md Sarwar Alam, former chairperson of the department of clinical oncology, spoke as a panel expert at the seminar.
The seminar informed that according to the World Health Organisation, about 56.8 million people worldwide need palliative care every year. Of these, 14 per cent receive this service.
Every year in Bangladesh, at least 6,00,000 people need palliative care but only 0.5 per cent receive this service. Therefore, expanding palliative care is the need of the hour, the press release added.
The seminar also informed that seriously ill patients on the verge of death; bedridden patients suffering from chronic illnesses; bedridden elderly patients suffering from age-related weakness and multiple diseases; paediatric patients; patients suffering from various complex diseases, including cancer; patients whose diseases are largely or completely incurable need to be provided palliative care.
