A National Palliative Care Strategy for Canada

Area of Science:

• Palliative Care Research
• Health Policy Analysis
• Healthcare System Improvement

Background:

• The World Health Organization urged member nations in 2014 to integrate palliative care into national health services.
• Universal access to high-quality palliative care remains a challenge in many countries, including Canada.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify barriers to universal access to high-quality palliative care in Canada.
• Review existing national palliative care strategies and frameworks.
• Examine factors associated with successful palliative care outcomes.
• Provide recommendations for enhancing palliative care in Canada.

Main Methods:

• A rapid review of published national strategies and frameworks.
• Inclusion of personal files and expert outreach within the international palliative care community.
• Review of publications from the European Association for Palliative Care.
• Searched tables of contents of major palliative care journals.

Main Results:

• Ten countries have developed palliative care frameworks, varying in scope from detailed strategies to general recommendations.
• Few formal evaluations exist, with limited comparative data on care quality, access, timing, and patient/family satisfaction.
• Key success factors include senior policy maker involvement, comprehensive strategies, focus on evidence and quality reporting, and sustained government investment.

Conclusions:

• Comprehensive national strategies are crucial for improving access to high-quality palliative care for individuals with serious illnesses and their families.
• Sustained government funding is essential for these strategies.
• Strategies must address barriers related to infrastructure, education, workforce, and the evidence base.