Narrative History of Palliative Care in Serbia and Montenegro
There is little palliative care available in Serbia at the present time. Oncologists in Serbia explain the situation:
'… we do not have any kind of organised palliative care services, education and so on. I am one of the very rare people in my country interested in palliative care at all. Last week I had meetings with the decision making people in my country trying to explain to them the meaning of the term palliative care and to establish a first hospice or at least a palliative care unit in the country. I know very well that we need it badly since I have been dealing, as a medical oncologist, with cancer patients for more than 20 years. Unfortunately our situation, due to well known events in the country during the last 10 years, is very bad and it is not easy to find the way even for basic education, not to mention setting up palliative care services.'11
A questionnaire entry reads:
'We need: (especially for cancer patients) hospital units and home care teams, hospices, more education for everyone (MDs, RNs, public, health professionals, government, money to import slow release morphine or methadone.'12
At least one oncologist from Serbia has been able to attend courses in palliative care outside the country: in England, Poland, Germany and Switzerland. She writes:
'Ten years ago some initial interest was shown among medical professionals for this field. Unfortunately, thanks to the unfavourable situation in my country the people who should be concerned with the problem and who could initiate and help the development of palliative care are at the moment engaged with the problems of existence. They suggest that palliative care should be postponed for a while, although I do my best to explain that palliative care is a much better solution for our situation and cheaper than the usual treatment. So far my efforts have been fruitless.'13
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