Beyond Cure: Integrating Palliative Care Into Healthcare System

Abstract

The World Health Organisation defines palliative care as an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness through the early identification, correct assessment and treatment of pain and other issues, whether physical, psychosocial, or spiritual. The main goal of palliative care includes relief of suffering by managing pain and other physical symptoms, while also offering nursing care, psychosocial support, and spiritual care. It offers support system to help the family cope during the patient’s illness and in their own bereavement. For this reason, it is most effective when delivered by an interdisciplinary, multifaceted team that includes doctors, nurses, counsellors, social workers, and volunteers.