Kuala Lumpur: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, today made an important visit to Hospis Malaysia, a charitable organization dedicated to providing palliative care to patients with chronic illnesses, such as cancer and kidney problems. The event coincided with the official birthday celebrations of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Queen's visit lasted over two hours, during which she interacted with patients receiving treatment at the center and generously donated RM30,000 to support the organization's efforts. The visit was attended by several notable figures, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's wife, Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bandar Tun Razak, Deputy Minister of Health Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni, Health Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Suriani Ahmad, and Hospis Malaysia CEO Ednin Hamzah.
In her speech, Her Majesty expressed her concern that many Malaysians remain unaware of the significance of palliative care for their family members. She highlighted that Hospis Malaysia offers essential support and care for patients with chronic illnesses, with a dedicated team of doctors and nurses who provide advice and assistance to both patients and their families, including home visits and effective pain management.
Raja Zarith Sofiah shared her personal journey of becoming aware of palliative care since the late 1990s, after participating in visits organized by the Johor Bahru Rotary Club to the homes of chronic patients. This experience inspired her to volunteer and contribute to the cause actively, attending seminars and connecting with palliative specialists worldwide.
Deputy Minister Lukanisman also addressed the gathering, emphasizing the critical role of palliative medicine in ensuring comprehensive and empathetic treatment for patients with severe illnesses. He noted that the Ministry of Health had recognized its importance by establishing a palliative medicine sub-specialty in 2003. As of last May, 17 hospitals under the ministry were offering this service, including pediatric palliative treatment.