December 24, 2019 (Tuesday) — — A recent study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management highlights the urgent need for enhanced development and implementation of palliative care worldwide.
Dr. David Clark and his team at the University of Glasgow conducted a global survey across 198 countries, assessing the state of palliative care infrastructure. The data reveals significant gaps in service availability and integration:
- 47 countries (24%) reported no palliative care activity.
- 13 countries (7%) indicated capacity-building efforts.
- 65 countries (33%) described isolated provision of services.
- 22 countries (11%) achieved generalized provision.
- 21 countries (11%) demonstrated preliminary integration into mainstream healthcare.
- 30 countries (15%) attained advanced integration.
The study identified strong correlations between palliative care development and factors such as World Bank income levels, universal health coverage, and the Human Development Index. Notably, progress was observed between 2006 and 2017, with more countries moving toward integrated palliative care systems.
“This is the most comprehensive analysis to date of palliative care development across nearly every country globally,” Dr. Clark stated. “It underscores the imperative to prioritize palliative care infrastructure and implementation, particularly to address escalating health-related suffering among terminally ill patients.”
