Key facts
Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness, whether physical, psychosocial or spiritual.
Each year, an estimated 40 million people are in need of palliative care, 78% of them people live in low- and middle-income countries.
Worldwide, only about 14% of people who need palliative care currently receive it.
Overly restrictive regulations for morphine and other essential controlled palliative medicines deny access to adequate pain relief and palliative care.
Lack of training and awareness of palliative care among health professionals is a major barrier to improving access.
The global need for palliative care will continue to grow as a result of the rising burden of noncommunicable diseases and ageing populations.
Early palliative care reduces unnecessary hospital admissions and the use of health services
