Palliative care is focused on enhancing quality of life for seriously ill. Hospice care is a comprehensive care provided by an interdisciplinary team for patients whose diseases cannot be cured and are approaching the end of life. To be eligible for admission to hospice care is required to be terminally ill with a life expectancy of 6 months or less. Currently, hospices are the main providers of specialized palliative care in the Czech Republic. This article is focused on the current state of palliative care and specifically on hospice care in the Czech Republic. This article should eliminate the myths associated with the hospice. It could also help physicians to better understand the role of hospice in delivering effective care for patients in the final stages of life.
Keywords: hospice care end of life care.; palliative care.