Description
The project addresses the difficulties faced by cancer patients and their extended families due to lack of information about their rights, available treatment, medication, funding, protection from corruption and discrimination. The project aims at solving the issues by providing access to timely information, support and counseling of the patients via the Patient Information Centre. First, the premises and the team of experts and volunteers for the Patient Information Centre will be selected and prepared. Second, a virtual information centre will be created providing online counseling and videoconference discussions with medical experts. Third, between 60 and 100 patients will be trained in information literacy and mediation. Finally, the applicant’s members and volunteers will be trained in boosting the organizational capacity. The project will benefit the cancer patients and their relatives as well as will raise the awareness of the local community in general.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the difficulties faced by cancer patients and their extended families due to lack of information about their rights, available treatment, medication, funding, protection from corruption and discrimination. The organisation managed to provide through the project activities an information environment and skills to search and find up-to-date and comprehensible information about the health and social rights of cancer patients as well as consult with oncologists about new technologies and strategies to treat cancer. The setting up of a Patient Information Centre (local office close to the Integrated Oncological Centre in Bourgas and a virtual office) helped hundreds of people with disability from cancer and their families to receive free-of-charge, adequate and timely information about issues related to their treatment and know and defend their rights. In addition to information about cancer treatment, the patients received counselling, help and support in case of refused treatment, unavailable medicines, harsh treatment, etc. A procedure was laid down for patient mediation for out-of-court settlement of disputes and conflicts under the Mediation Act. Video-conference discussions with specialists were held at the Patient Information Centre and they were broadcast online in real time so that patients from across Bulgaria could ask questions. The goal of the project promoter is to not only to keep the centre functioning after the project end but also upgrade the progress achieved.
Summary of bilateral results