Civil society and palliative care

In Ukraine, the participation of civil society in the development of the Palliative and Hospice Care (PHC) system is not crucial, since professional Non-Governmental (Civil) Organizations (NGOs) do not have the resources and powers necessary for such an impact. However, the experience of other countries shows that the participation of NGOs in the creation of a PHC system, which should be among the "best practices", is mandatory. The study was conducted to identify the areas of work of Ukrainian NGOs for the provision of PHC and influence on state policy. The study was conducted using the method of system analysis and bibliosemantic method, with a search for sources by keywords in Ukrainian and English in Google, Google Scholar and PubMed. PHC consists of medical care, psychological, spiritual, social and legal support for patients. Medical care and psychological support are entrusted to the healthcare system, which should also coordinate other areas. However, the actual overload of medical workers leaves other areas of PHC in the sphere of responsibility of social services and NGOs. NGOs specializing in palliative care are mainly professional associations of doctors and nurses in palliative medicine. Some NGOs also advocate for patients’ rights, support patients and their relatives (caregivers), and provide social support. In countries with developed palliative care systems, NGOs specializing in palliative care can organize their own hospices, be coordination centers for palliative care, conduct training, conduct scientific research, and even issue licenses to doctors and nurses to work in palliative care. In many countries where euthanasia is legalized, NGOs have had a significant impact on the legalization process, studied public opinion, and exerted the necessary influence on politicians. Ukrainian scientists are developing models for organizing palliative care, in which NGOs should receive greater resources and powers to play a greater role in the further development of the national palliative care system. Keywords: palliative and hospice care, social support, psychological support, spiritual support, advocacy.