Re-launching Palliative Care Ward at the SGH

suppadmin | December 10, 2016

The re-launching of palliative care ward at the Sarawak General Hospital on 4th December 2016 was to develop and advance much needed palliative care services in Kuching and Sarawak; forging strong collaboration between government agencies and NGOs in delivering care to our patients in the true Spirit of Sarawak- regardless of race, language, religion and political parties.

It is an 8 bedded ward- far too small to cater to the great needs of the hundreds of palliative care patients in Kuching alone, but it is a start.

YB Datuk Prof Dr Sim was invited to officiate the event to help create awareness about palliative care.

To the medical circle, it was therefore disappointing to see the news article in Sin Chew on 8th December 2016 featuring YB Chong’s claim that the re-launching was a publicity stunt by Datuk Prof Dr Sim, and questioned the authenticity of the whole event.

It is very sad that an MP would politicized an honourable event held with the best intention and celebrated by all who were present that day. The claim is not only insulting but also undermined the ongoing effort in promoting palliative care in Kuching and Sarawak.

Death and dying is a part and parcel of life itself regardless of race, language, religion and political parties. Palliative care aims to help support patients with advanced cancer and other chronic fatal disease to live till they die and to do so with dignity.

The occasion therefore should not be politicised.