Palliative Care Development in Mongolia

Abstract

Context: Since the year 2000, Mongolia has established the foundation measures for a national palliative care program and has made several significant achievements.

Methods: Systematic reviews and observational studies on palliative care development in Mongolia have taken place over the past 16 years.

Results: Mongolia began palliative care development in 2000 with the creation of the Mongolian Palliative Care Society and the Palliative Care Department. Palliative care is included in the Mongolia's Health Law, Health Insurance Law, Social Welfare Law, National Cancer Control Program, and the National Program for Non-Communicable Diseases, and has approved Palliative Care Standards and Pain Management Guidelines. Palliative care education is included in the undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum in all medical universities. Six hospice units in Ulaanbaatar have 50 beds; each of the nine districts and all 21 provinces have up to four to five palliative beds, and there are 36 palliative care units, for a total 190 beds for three million people. In 2014, a pediatric palliative care inpatient unit was established with five beds. Essential drugs for palliative care have been available in Mongolia since 2015. The pharmaceutical company IVCO produces morphine, codeine, pethidine, and oxycodone in Ulaanbaatar.

Conclusion: Mongolia has made real progress in integrating palliative care into the health system.

Keywords: Mongolia; morphine; palliative care; policy.