Patients needing palliative care in Jordan can access free services from the charitable NGO Al Malath Foundation if they live in Amman, or have access to one of the 4 volunteer Al Malath nurses in their locality. Al Malath Hospice receives a small payment of up to 1000 JD¹¹ per year from the General Union, the Philanthropic Societies, and the Ministry of Social Development. Al Malath offers all services, including equipment, free of charge. There are plans to institute a ‘sliding scale’ of fees, but care will continue to be free to all those who cannot afford to pay.¹²

King Hussein Cancer Centre is a non governmental, not-for-profit organisation providing services to patients either with government subsidised insurance or for private fees.

Since 2004, the government provides subsidised services for all cancer patients in government and non government hospitals, if they are Jordanian citizens. Patients with cancer can join the government Royal Court insurance scheme (regardless of previous health insurance status) – and providing they renew their insurance at 6 monthly intervals need only pay a minimum of 10% of all healthcare fees.¹³

Private sector insurance, which provides cover for around 59% of the population, does not include palliative care services.¹⁴

All cancer patients have to pay for their medications. However, they can choose to obtain a 90% discount on prescriptions through Royal Court insurance, dispensed via pharmacies at KHCC or Al Basheer Hospital, or they may have the prescriptions dispensed through a private pharmacy and pay the full cost. Since 2004, new government legislation allows all children under five to be entitled to free healthcare.¹⁵