The Croatian Society for Palliative Medicine of the Croatian Medical Association and the Croatian Center for Palliative Care today presented the humanitarian action ‘Stay with Me’, which initiates the establishment of the first Institution for Palliative Medicine in Croatia.
This is the most comprehensive humanitarian action of its kind in Croatia to date, aimed at raising public awareness about the issues faced by patients suffering from incurable diseases. Palliative medicine is comprehensive care for patients with incurable diseases, whose illness does not respond to preventive and curative therapy. According to statistics, over 50,000 people die annually in Croatia, many of whom do so without adequate professional assistance. According to some estimates, over 30,000 people need palliative care each year, but only about 200 receive it. The need for establishing an Institution for Palliative Medicine has also been recognized by the Government of the Republic of Croatia, emphasized Marijana Braš, president of the Croatian Society for Palliative Care, during the presentation of the action. In connection with the implementation of the humanitarian action, Sandoz Croatia, one of the co-organizers of the action, proposed to the HZZO a reduction in the prices of its drugs for supportive therapy by 40 to 70 percent. (A. K.)
