Sverdlovsk's Children's Hospice Sets New Standards in Pediatric Palliative Care

Ural Region's First Children's Hospice Marks Fifth Anniversary

On the orders of Sverdlovsk Region Governor Denis Pasler, Deputy Governor and Regional Health Minister Tatiana Savinova visited the children's hospice on March 19 to thank its staff for their daily work in proving that modern palliative care provides patients with compassion, dignity, and quality of life. This was reported by the Sverdlovsk Region Department of Information Policy to Obshchestvennaya Gazeta (OG).

"This children's hospice is a point of pride for Sverdlovsk's healthcare system and the heart of our region's pediatric palliative care. Nearly 450 children pass through its doors each year, receiving love while their parents find hope. Together with seven mobile outreach teams and specialized units in Asbest, Serov, and Pervouralsk, we have built a unified network. Our mission is not just to extend their lives but to make them as comfortable as possible—for the children and their families," Savinova emphasized.

The hospice is designed for round-the-clock care of 35 young patients and their parents. Its facilities include offices for the mobile pediatric palliative care team, a training center for parents and volunteers, and interiors that feel more like cozy living spaces than hospital wards. The surrounding grounds are landscaped to accommodate the children's needs. The hospice organizes holidays, daily workshops, concerts, and a reading club for its young residents.

"Today, this children's hospice is more than just a 35-bed medical facility—it is a flagship of service, setting the highest standards of compassion and professionalism. We care for the largest number of children on home artificial lung ventilation in the region. Our goal is not only to prolong their lives but to ensure they—and their families—live as fully and comfortably as possible," Savinova noted.

By the end of the year, a 10-bed children's hospice unit will open at the Nizhny Tagil Children's City Hospital, further expanding access to palliative care.

Cross-agency cooperation and regional social support measures play a key role in this effort. In 2026, 56.6 million rubles have been allocated to assist children with palliative care needs.

The regional health minister extended special thanks to all who support the hospice daily—charitable foundations, including the RMK Foundation, the St. Catherine Foundation, and the First Children's Hospice of Sverdlovsk Region, as well as the many compassionate individuals who offer their time, encouragement, and, most importantly, their attention to the children.

It is worth noting that over the past five years, the children's hospice has become one of the leading providers of pediatric palliative care in Russia. In 2024, it was awarded the inaugural Poputchiki Professional Prize in the Support Along the Way category, which recognizes organizations that have achieved outstanding quality in delivering free palliative care across the Russian Federation. At the regional level, the children's hospice has repeatedly received the Golden Iris Award as the country's best pediatric palliative care unit.