PCAM finally gets licence from MoH to operate as Hospice Centre
MIRI: Palliative Care Association Miri (PCAM) that provides free health services to terminally ill patients and their family members has recently been licensed as a Hospice Centre by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia.
The licence is effective from Oct 26 this year to 2024.
Hospice services are available to patients who can no longer benefit from curative treatment. Hospice responds to the unique needs of the terminally ill by providing physical and emotional care to dying persons and their families. It allows a terminally ill person to be at home and close to family and friends while still under professional medical supervision.
According to PCAM vice president, Dr Doris Jong, with the issuing of the licence, PCAM could now extend its service to Niah, Marudi, Limbang and Lawas. Prior to this, their services particularly the Home Care Programme (HCP) covered only patients within the 50km radius in Miri District.
“We are very thankful to the Ministry of Health for finally approving the licence, after rejecting the applications five times.
With the licence, we could now reach out to more patients and their family members who require our services,” said Dr Jong during a recent appreciation dinner for PCAM volunteers and staff.
Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin, PCAM president Dr Loh Yunn Hua and exco members were also present.
Lee meanwhile applauded PCAM for their untiring efforts to improve their services as it helped in ensuring quality health services in Miri.
Meanwhile, Dr Jong added that PCAM hopes to start construction works on their proposed new hospice centre costing some RM1.5 million, in 2024.
“Our target is to ensure more people benefit from our services there, are still many people unaware of our services,” she said.
Among the upcoming efforts are to hold a Palliative Care Public Forum from 2pm to 5pm on Nov 26 at Bintang Megamall Miri.
The speaker is Dr Yeat Choi Ling who is deputy national advisor of Palliative Medicine, Ministry of Health Malaysia.
Admission is free and the public are encouraged to come.
As of October this year, 295 PCAM Home Care Services have been provided to 106 patients, mostly in Miri, compared to 58 last year for 104 patients.
For further enquiries or to donate, call the PCAM centre on 011-64697491, 012- 8456480 or email to palliativecaremiri@gmail.com.
Our target is to ensure more people benefit from our services, there are still many people unaware of our services.
Dr Doris Jong