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

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Despite a plethora of evidence available on the benefits of palliative care (PC), it is estimated that only about 14% of those living in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) or developing countries have access to PC. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To globally examine PC expert perspectives regarding PC infrastructure and resources within each country, drug and opioid availability to provide PC, and workforce and educational issues. <b><i>Design:</i></b> Descriptive, open-ended survey seeking first-hand qualitative perspectives. <b><i>Setting/Subjects:</i></b> PC experts from 21 developing countries representing 5 continents around the world. <b><i>Measurements:</i></b> Qualitative narratives and discussions with PC experts. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The summaries inform four key recommendations for future progress of PC in developing countries: (1) PC infrastructure should increase accessibility to both urban and rural areas; (2) increasing medication and nonpharmacologic approaches for symptoms is essential; (3) interdisciplinary education should continue to expand and include scholarships, PC certifications, and advanced education; and 4) future research with developing countries is desperately needed to advance care and progress. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Considerable PC progress has been accomplished; however, significant gaps remain. This report can be used to discuss PC capacity building within a country. It could serve as an important document while negotiating with authorities and Ministries of Health about expanding PC infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Finally, PC champions can use this report to advocate for increased opioid availability to promote comfort; in particular, increased availability of oral opioids is essential, so that patients can die comfortably at home.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Palliative Medicine
Published
2025-09-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1177/10966218251376298
Primary Topic
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

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

Mohamed Hablas, Jeannine M. Brant, Michael Silbermann, John Weru et al.
Journal of Palliative Medicine
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
article

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

Mohamed Hablas, Jeannine M. Brant, Michael Silbermann, John Weru, Gabriela Píriz Álvarez, Rejin Kebudi, Michel Daher, Daniela Moşoiu, Gulnara Kunirova, Sophia Nestoros, Islam Salikhanov, Dingle Spence, Mohammad Al-Qadire, Tamar Rukhadze, Aleksandra Kotlińska–Lemieszek, Marisol Bustamante, Mohamad Khleif, Maryam Rassouli, Seema Rajesh Rao, Salma A. Al‐Hadad, Lili Tang, Maricela S. Bacerril, Asmaa El-Azhari, Emmanuel Luyirica
article en

Abstract

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Despite a plethora of evidence available on the benefits of palliative care (PC), it is estimated that only about 14% of those living in low- to middle-income countries (LMIC) or developing countries have access to PC. <b><i>Objective:</i></b> To globally examine PC expert perspectives regarding PC infrastructure and resources within each country, drug and opioid availability to provide PC, and workforce and educational issues. <b><i>Design:</i></b> Descriptive, open-ended survey seeking first-hand qualitative perspectives. <b><i>Setting/Subjects:</i></b> PC experts from 21 developing countries representing 5 continents around the world. <b><i>Measurements:</i></b> Qualitative narratives and discussions with PC experts. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The summaries inform four key recommendations for future progress of PC in developing countries: (1) PC infrastructure should increase accessibility to both urban and rural areas; (2) increasing medication and nonpharmacologic approaches for symptoms is essential; (3) interdisciplinary education should continue to expand and include scholarships, PC certifications, and advanced education; and 4) future research with developing countries is desperately needed to advance care and progress. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Considerable PC progress has been accomplished; however, significant gaps remain. This report can be used to discuss PC capacity building within a country. It could serve as an important document while negotiating with authorities and Ministries of Health about expanding PC infrastructure, especially in rural areas. Finally, PC champions can use this report to advocate for increased opioid availability to promote comfort; in particular, increased availability of oral opioids is essential, so that patients can die comfortably at home.

Journal of Palliative MedicineVol. 28(9)
Poznan University of Medical Sciences (PL), City Of Hope National Medical Center (US), University of Baghdad (IQ), University of the West Indies System (JM), University of Balamand (LB), University of Basel (CH), Peking University (CN), Aga Khan University Hospital Nairobi (KE), African Palliative Care Association (UG), Hospital Maciel (UY), Al al-Bayt University (JO), Transylvania University of Brașov (RO), Peking University Cancer Hospital (CN), Aga Khan University Nairobi (KE), Karnataka Health Promotion Trust (IN), Université Mohammed VI des Sciences et de la Santé (MA), Unidad de Cirugía Cardiovascular de Guatemala (GT), National Cancer Center of Georgia (GE), Independent Expert Consulting Board to Promote Scientific Research Activity in Kazakhstan (KZ), Instituto Nacional de Cancerología (MX), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences (IR), Istanbul University (TR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 67%
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
DOISourceOpenAlex
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.