Palliative care is an approach to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. It means prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification, assessment, and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial, and spiritual.
Worldwide, it is estimated that 40 million people need palliative care every year, due to the ageing population and the rise of noncommunicable and other chronic diseases. Therefore, there is an increased need to address palliative care needs by raising awareness, improving health regulations, training health care providers, and integrating palliative care into the health system.
PALLIATIVE CARE:
