The European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO ) renewed certification of the Palliative Care Unit at Hospital da Luz Lisboa as center of excellence in articulation with Oncology . The certification, now valid for the 2027-2030 triennium, reflects the work developed by the professionals in this hospital, presently completing 15 years bearing the ESMO seal of quality and excellence (awarded for the first time in 2011). “This reaccreditation represents international recognition of the quality, consistency, and humanity of the care model we have developed. It means that our unit ensures early, continuous, and integrated palliative care, provided in parallel with cancer treatments, addressing the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs of patients and their families,” says Rita Abril , director of the Palliative Care Unit at Hospital da Luz Lisboa. The ESMO recognition, she adds, “honors our team for its commitment to clinical excellence, multidisciplinary collaboration , and the belief that palliative care is part of the cancer care journey from the moment of diagnosis – and not just at the end of life.” The Palliative Care Unit at Hospital da Luz Lisboa was the first in Portugal to receive this distinction from ESMO. The reaccreditation, the director emphasizes, “is above all a renewed responsibility: to continue ensuring rigorous, compassionate, and person-centered care, in line with European and international best practices”. The Unit and the Oncology Center of this hospital have a nursing team and physicians specialized in Medical Oncology, Clinical Hematology, Radiotherapy, and Palliative Care, providing healthcare to hospitalized and ambulatory patients. The Oncology Center , directed by José Luís Passos Coelho , follows every year around 1,000 patients, operating with close collaboration with medical, surgical, diagnostic, and other services, including Rehabilitation, Nutrition, Psychology, and Pharmacy. The Palliative Care Unit (whose team, pictured above, is led by Rita Abril) ensures timely access to palliative and integrated support care, as well as continuity between the different services of the hospital, registering an annual average of 650 patients, around 60% of which with oncologic disease. Care provided by the UCP multidisciplinary team englobes physical, psychological, functional, social, spiritual, and existential needs , including complex symptoms management, medication revision, rehabilitation, nutrition, communication, cared advance planning, shared decision-making, support to family, and end-of-life care. ESMO has about 50 thousand members and its assessment is a reference in medical oncology. Its main goal is to improve the quality of oncological care, inform physicians, oncologic patients and the general public on the best practice and the latest advances in oncology. Hospital da Luz Lisboa certification can be consulted HERE .
