Palliative care in the Eastern Mediterranean: comparative analysis using specific indicators.

Background: Monitoring the development of palliative care (PC) illustrates the capacity of health systems to respond to the needs of people experiencing serious health-related suffering.

Aim: To analyse comparatively the situation of PC in the countries of the Easter Mediterranean region using context-specific indicators.

Method: An online questionnaire with 15 context-specific PC indicators investigating service provision, use of medicines, policy, education, and vitality was designed.

Development of an atlas of palliative care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region through a stakeholder participative process.

Background: The increasing number of people experiencing serious health-related suffering due to severe illness is an urgent issue in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Although palliative care can mitigate much of this suffering, its current development and indicators to measure progress remain unknown.

Aims: To describe the development of the Atlas of palliative care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region 2021.

The Eastern Mediterranean Regional Palliative Care Expert Network: Designing a roadmap for palliative care development in the region.

Since 2014 WHO has been advocating for the integration of palliative care into health systems. Although there has been some progress in the development of palliative care in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, many countries in the region still have no palliative care activity and none has achieved integration. The WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean has been engaged in activities aimed to develop palliative care in the region since 2010.

Region-specific macro-indicators for palliative care development in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: a Delphi study.

Background: The World Health Organization Office for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (WHO/EMRO), and the recently created palliative care experts network for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), decided to develop region-specific indicators for monitoring national palliative care development in the Region.

Aims: To identify relevant and feasible macro-indicators for palliative care development for the EMR.

Methods: Palliative care experts from the EMR were nominated and invited to complete a 2-round Delphi study to rate macro-indicators from previous studies and propose new ones based on the EMR regional characteristics.

Strengthening palliative care in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of lives of patients and their families when facing problems associated with life-limiting illness, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual. It is acknowledged as a crucial part of integrated, people-centered health services and a human right. In 2014, WHO Member States endorsed the World Health Assembly Resolution 67.

Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in iran: the case for Investment.

Background: Non-communicable diseases are imposing a considerable burden on Iran. This study aims to assess the Return on Investment (ROI) for implementation of Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) prevention program in Iran.

Methods: Four disease groups including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory diseases were included in our ROI analysis.

The case for investing in the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in the six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council: an economic evaluation.

Background: While the non-communicable disease (NCD) burden in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) has surged over the past decades, the costs and return on investment (ROI) of implementing cost-effective, WHO-recommended NCD interventions have not been established.

Methods: We performed an economic analysis to estimate the ROI from scaling up four sets of NCD interventions over 15 years. We estimated the direct costs of the four main NCDs (cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory diseases) using a prevalence-based, bottom-up cost-of-illness approach.

Routine COVID-19 testing may not be necessary for most cancer patients.

Cancer patients are at risk for severe complications or death from COVID-19 infection. Therefore, the need for routine COVID-19 testing in this population was evaluated. Between 1st August and 30th October 2020, 150 cancer patients were included.

What Is the Preparedness and Capacity of Palliative Care Services in Middle-Eastern and North African Countries to Respond to COVID-19? A Rapid Survey.

Context: Evidence from prior public health emergencies demonstrates palliative care's importance to manage symptoms, make advance care plans, and improve end-of-life outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the preparedness and capacity of palliative care services in the Middle-East and North Africa region to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was undertaken, with items addressing the WHO International Health Regulations.

Use of cancer data for cancer control in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: Results of a survey among population-based cancer registries.

Data from population-based cancer registries (PBCR) are critical for planning, monitoring and evaluation of cancer control programs, but are frequently underutilized by key stakeholders. As part of the ongoing partnership of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) in cancer surveillance, we designed a cancer registry survey to assess the level of involvement of PBCR in national cancer control planning across the region. A questionnaire on registry characteristics, their contribution to cancer control and perceived barriers, was sent to 14 countries with operational PBCR.

Strengthening the early detection of common cancers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) with an estimated 676 500 new cases and 419 000 cancer deaths in 2018. Population growth, ageing and the rise of risk factors may lead to double the incidence within the coming decades. Based on GLOBOCAN 2018 the most common cancers in the region are breast, colorectal, lung, liver and bladder cancer, closely followed by Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia.