Don’t send cancer patients home when they need care, FG tells hospitals

The Federal Government has advised healthcare facilities to refrain from discharging cancer patients home prematurely when they still necessitate ongoing hospital care, emphasizing the importance of continued treatment and support even when a cure is no longer attainable. Dr Uchechukwu Nwokwu, the National Coordinator of the National Cancer Control Plan at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, disclosed this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.

Nwokwu cautioned that a health facility's inability to provide further curative treatment should not automatically lead to a patient's discharge without provisions for continued care at another suitable facility. Should a facility lack the necessary capacity, the patient should promptly be referred to an appropriate facility where necessary medical support could be delivered without interruption.

Nwokwu emphasized the need for uninterrupted cancer care, even in the absence of bed space, urging the prompt referral of patients to another facility capable of providing continued care. He stated that a cancer patient should only be discharged when clinically stable, capable of self-administering treatment, and unlikely to require further intervention or monitoring.

Nwokwu urged healthcare facilities to prioritize patients' continuing care needs, regardless of the severity of the situation. He clarified that cancer treatment could encompass various modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and targeted therapy, depending on the disease type, stage, and individual patient requirements.

In advanced cancer cases where cure-oriented treatment is no longer feasible, Nwokwu stressed that patients would still require appropriate care, including the management of pain and distressing symptoms, to ensure a peaceful and pain-free death. He underscored that palliative care should be viewed as essential support for patients, not limited to those who are terminally ill or have exhausted all treatment options.

Nwokwu stated that palliative care should be initiated within six weeks of a cancer diagnosis to address not only physical symptoms but also psychological, social, financial, and spiritual challenges associated with the disease and its treatment, especially for vulnerable patients. By integrating palliative care early into cancer management, patients can cope with the disease while receiving appropriate treatment and support, improving their quality of life and overall outcomes.