The Current Status of Palliative Care in Cyprus: Has it Improved in the Last Years?

摘要

The oncology and palliative care services in Cyprus were reviewed looking especially on changes that occurred recently. Although there are encouraging signs in the management of palliative care patients, there is still room for improvement. Especially efforts should be made to improve communication between hospitals and palliative care organizations. The Ministry of Health should also take the initiative to get all palliative care organizations to work together under an official body and integrate palliative care into mainstream health service provision and education.Cyprus is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea and joined the European Union in 2004. It was a former British colony, which achieved independence in 1960 and is situated south of Turkey and west of Syria and Lebanon.Its Cypriot population in 2010 was estimated to be 800,000. There are a number of non-Cypriots currently living in Cyprus. Most of them are British migrants and several overseas workers from Vietnam, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Cyprus also hosts refugees from some Middle East countries. Therefore, the total population of Cyprus as of the end of 2010 was slightly under 1 million.