The Department of Radiotherapy, Oncology and Palliative Care Unit, Sarawak General Hospital was recently awarded the ESMO Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care after satisfactorily fulfilling the required 13 criteria. The prestigious “ESMO Designated Centres of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care” program is an incentive program initiated in 2003 in which cancer centres can receive special recognition for achieving a high standard of integration of medical oncology and palliative care. The ESMO designation is valid for 3 years.

The aim of palliative care is to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients, their caregivers and family, by providing relief from pain and other distressing symptoms, and by integrating the physical, psychological, social, emotional and spiritual aspects of care. Providing the best quality palliative care has both a moral and a clinical imperative. All designated centres have proven that they provide closely integrated oncology and palliative care clinical services. The treatment they offer incorporates expert care for relieving pain, other physical symptoms, and psychological distress.

The main objectives of the program are:-

• promoting the integration of palliative care services into the existing national cancer care guidelines

• encouraging palliative care education and training for medical oncologists as well as other healthcare professionals.

• Expanding the cooperation between ESMO and other existing professional medical association and organizations in different geographical regions in supporting and sustaining palliative care development.

The official announcement of the ESMO 2009 Designated Centres took place in Berlin (International Congress Centrum), Germany during the ECCO 15 and 34th ESMO Multidisciplinary Congress – Award session on 22nd September 2009. The ICC Berlin ranks among the biggest, most advanced and most successful congress venues in the world