Pushing for end-of-life care in Malaysia

LAKEWOOD, CO - SEPTEMBER 01: Hospice volunteers caress the hands of terminally ill patient Annabelle Martin, 95, as her health quickly declined at the Hospice of Saint John on September 1, 2009 in Lakewood, Colorado. The non-profit hospice, which serves on average 200 people at a time, is the second oldest hospice in the United States. The hospice accepts patients regardless of their ability to pay, although most are covered by Medicare or Medicaid. End of life care has become a contentious issue in the current national debate on health care reform. John Moore/Getty Images/AFP== FOR NEWSPAPERS, INTERNET, TELCOS & TELEVISION USE ONLY ==

Palliative care aims to provide comfort to a patient who has a life-threatening disease, from the time of diagnosis and throughout the course of illness.

The practice of palliative or end-of-life care for patients with life-threatening illnesses is still at its infancy in Malaysia. But the Government is pushing for greater interest by medical practitioners and support personnel in this important area.