Primary Care-driven Palliative Medicine: A Much-needed Strategy to Alleviate Healthcare Delivery in Pakistan

The World Health Organization has acknowledged the ethical obligation of healthcare systems to provide palliative care. While several Asian countries have successfully implemented integrated models for palliative care delivery, Pakistan’s healthcare system continues to face challenges in establishing accessible and equitable palliative care services. Incorporating palliative care into the primary care framework represents a viable strategy, fostering patient- and family-centered care within communities. Such integration may assist health systems in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly the commitment to “leave no one behind,” and in addressing the stratospheric dual burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases during periods of socioeconomic instability. This article highlights the importance of palliative care, examines barriers to its implementation, and proposes recommendations for developing sustainable palliative care services at the primary care level in Pakistan. Empowering healthcare professionals to deliver primary and community-based care could support the increasing number of patients with terminal and complex medical conditions, thereby promoting equitable healthcare access for all.