Promoting Palliative Care to Patients in Developing Countries-Global Perspectives and Future Recommendations

Area of Science:

• Global Health
• Palliative Care Research
• Symptom Management

Background:

• Palliative care (PC) benefits are widely recognized, yet access is severely limited in low- to middle-income countries (LMICs).
• An estimated 86% of individuals in LMICs lack access to essential palliative care services.
• Significant disparities exist in PC availability between high-income and developing nations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To gather global palliative care expert perspectives on infrastructure, resources, and education in developing countries.
• To identify barriers and facilitators for palliative care development worldwide.
• To inform strategies for expanding palliative care access and quality in resource-limited settings.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, open-ended survey was employed to collect qualitative data.
• Palliative care experts from 21 developing countries across 5 continents participated.
• Data collection involved qualitative narratives and expert discussions.

Main Results:

• Key recommendations include expanding PC infrastructure to urban and rural areas.
• Enhancing access to both pharmacological and non-pharmacological symptom management is essential.
• Interdisciplinary education, scholarships, and certifications are vital for workforce development.
• Increased research collaboration with developing countries is urgently needed.

Conclusions:

• Despite progress, substantial gaps in palliative care capacity persist in developing countries.
• The findings provide a framework for PC capacity building and policy negotiation.
• Advocacy for increased opioid availability, particularly oral formulations, is critical for patient comfort and end-of-life care at home.