National Palliative Care Association president Valerian Isac, executive director of “Hospice Angelus Moldova”, said a specialized palliative care service recognized by the competent bodies is necessary in Moldova given the high number of persons who need such a service. The issue was discussed in the talk show “Moldova live” on the public TV channel Moldova 1, IPN reports.

According to Valerian Isac, a lot of violations of orders and the legislation are committed in the health system when doctors do not prescribe the necessary quantity of opioids and allow persons who suffer from incurable diseases, especially cancer, to suffer severe pain. “This happens because of fear to assume additional responsibility, because of the myths about morphine, according to which a patient can be turned into a drug addict,” he stated, noting a patient with severe chronic pain cannot psychologically become dependent on morphine.

Liliana Gherman, director of the public health department of Soros Foundation Moldova, said not anyone can enjoy palliative care services. “The people who need palliative care are wronged as not anyone can live the last days of their life with dignity. I think the most important message is for any specialist, with specialized training in the field, to intervene anytime they knows they can do something to ease the patient’s sufferings,” stated Liliana Gherman.

Svetlana Bivol, director of the National Philharmonic “Sergey Lunkevich”, a relative of whom benefited from palliative care, stated this service is provided free to patients, but in general is very expensive. “There is the other part of the coin. Large funds are needed in this regard and different charity events are thus organized,” she noted.

In Moldova, there are now 25,000 people who need palliative care services.