HPCA Conference 2015: MEC & Minister of Health in full support of Palliative Care

During our annual HPCA Conference that took place in Durban last week, we were privileged to have esteemed guest speakers such as the MEC of KZN, Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo and the Honourable Minster of Health for South Africa, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi.

Both were in full support of hospice and palliative care and believed that it was wrong that patients should wish for death to alleviate their pain. Government health bosses are pushing for easier and wider access to painkilling morphine for terminally ill patients in South Africa.Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo, an expert in palliative care, said nurses needed the authority to administer the drug.

The three day conference was a great success and was attended by delegates from countries such as United States of America, UK, Botswana and Uganda.ehospice South Africa will be publishing interviews with some of these delegates soon.

There was good media coverage which can be viewed by clicking on the following links:

1.       http://citizen.co.za/792694/nurses-should-be-allowed-to-dispense-morphine-mec/

2.       http://www.iol.co.za/dailynews/news/push-for-access-to-morphine-1.1925383#.VhTbOysnKex