New Delhi, Nov 25 || Integrating palliative care into the public health system can help universalise access and improve healthcare, according to a study.
Palliative care is a branch of medicine that aims to prevent and relieve the physical, social, and spiritual suffering of patients suffering from chronic life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers.
The World Health Organisation defines palliative care as ‘an approach that improves the quality of life of patients (adults and children) and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness’.
The study showed that nearly 7-10 million people require palliative care in India, but less than 4 per cent have access to it.