Today, the whole world is celebrating World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.

Employees of these institutions are exceptional people. Every day, treating terminally-ill and often desperate people, they find the strength to comfort patients and ease their sufferings. I would like to express my deepest gratitude to them.

Hospice and Palliative Care Day is aimed at drawing public attention to the problems of terminally-ill people. But this does not mean that they cannot receive support. It is very important to provide them with decent and comfortable living conditions, rescue them from pain, fear, and loneliness, and to give them an opportunity to live the rest of their lives to the utmost.

To some extent, the development of this sector is a serious public test for humanity, cordiality, sympathy and strength of spirit. Russia has always had a strong tradition of charity and mercy, and today the state is promoting its revitalisation and development. Any kind of participation in this work not just helps patients, but also mentally enriches everyone whose civil and personal duty is not to remain indifferent to people’s sufferings. I would like to thank everyone who helps others to overcome their grief.

Dmitry Medvedev