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Kiyange F, Atieno M, Luyirika EBK, Ali Z, Musau H, Thambo L, Rhee JY, Namisango E, Rosa WE. Measuring palliative care integration in Malawi through service provision, access, and training indicators: the Waterloo Coalition Initiative. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:17. [PMID: 38229044 PMCID: PMC10790398 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-023-01331-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fewer than 1 in 20 people on the African continent in need of palliative care receive it. Malawi is a low-income country in sub-Saharan Africa that has yet to achieve advanced palliative care integration accompanied by unrestricted access to pain and symptom relieving palliative medicines. This paper studied the impact of Malawi's Waterloo Coalition Initiative (WCI) - a local project promoting palliative care integration through service development, staff training, and increased service access. METHODS Interdisciplinary health professionals at 13 hospitals in southern Malawi were provided robust palliative care training over a 10-month period. We used a cross-sectional evaluation to measure palliative care integration based on 11 consensus-based indicators over a one-year period. RESULTS 92% of hospitals made significant progress in all 11 indicators. Specifically, there was a 69% increase in the number of dedicated palliative care rooms/clinics, a total of 253 staff trained across all hospitals (a 220% increase in the region), substantive increases in the number of patients receiving or assessed for palliative care, and the number of hospitals that maintained access to morphine or other opioid analgesics while increasing the proportion of referrals to hospice or other palliative care programs. CONCLUSION Palliative care is a component of universal health coverage and Sustainable Development Goal 3. The WCI has made tremendous strides in establishing and integrating palliative care services in Malawi with notable progress across 11 project indicators, demonstrating that increased palliative care access is possible in severely resource-constrained settings through sustained models of partnership at the local level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatia Kiyange
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Zipporah Ali
- Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Helena Musau
- Kenya Hospice and Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Lameck Thambo
- Palliative Care Association of Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - John Y Rhee
- Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - William E Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 633 Third Avenue, 4th Fl, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Namisango E, Luyirika EBK, Matovu L, Berger A. The Meaning of Healing to Adult Patients with Advanced Cancer. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2023; 20:1474. [PMID: 36674226 PMCID: PMC9861899 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to explore the meaning of healing from the perspective of adult patients with advanced cancer. METHODS We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a primary study which used a cognitive interview approach to assess the face and content validity of a spiritual and psychological healing measure (NIH-HEALS). This analysis focused on responses to the question, "What does the term 'healing' mean to you?" Data were de-identified, transcribed verbatim, and imported in NVivo for thematic analysis in line with interpretive phenomenological methods. RESULTS Thirty-five adults with advanced cancer participated in the study. We identified nine major themes: acceptance, surrender, faith, hope, peace, freedom from suffering (e.g., pain, problems, or other bothersome factors), overcoming/transcending disease, positive emotions (e.g., happiness), recovery from illness or disease. One participant discussed healing as synonymous with death, and two associated it with social relations and social support. CONCLUSION Themes from patients' responses suggest subjective and varied definitions of healing which encompass physical, social, spiritual, and psychological domains of well-being, distinct from the physical cure of disease. Clinicians should adopt a holistic, person-centered approach to care, attending to bodily, psychosocial, spiritual, and emotional needs to help patients find meaning in their experiences, nourish resilience, and experience a sense of healing-as they define it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala P.O. Box 72518, Uganda
- Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation, Cicely Saunders Institute King’s College London, London SE5 9RS, UK
| | | | - Lawrence Matovu
- Formerly-Department of Clinical Services, Hospice Africa Uganda, Kampala P.O. Box 7757, Uganda
| | - Ann Berger
- National Institutes of Health, Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Namisango E, Powell RA, Taylor S, Radbruch L, Freeman R, Haufiku D, Mwagomba BM, Acuda W, Thambo L, Kambiya I, Luyirika EBK, Mwangi-Powell FN, Harding R. Depressive Symptoms and Palliative Care Concerns Among Patients With Non-communicable Diseases in Two Southern African Countries. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 65:26-37. [PMID: 36162705 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), associated with health-related suffering, can benefit from palliative care in resource-limited settings, where over four-fifths of these deaths occur. OBJECTIVE To measure the prevalence of depressive symptoms, palliative care-related concerns, physical and other psychological symptoms among adult patients with NCDs in Malawi and Namibia. METHODS This multi-center, cross-sectional study consecutively recruited outpatients from four tertiary referral hospitals. Stepwise regression analysis was used to assess factors associated with physical and psychological symptom burden. RESULTS Among 457 participants, primary diagnosis was cancer (n=147, 32%); cardiovascular disease (CVD) (n=130, 28%), chronic respiratory disease (CRESD) (n=73, 16%) or diabetes (n=107, 23%). Over half were female (58.9%; n=269), mean age was 48 (SD=15.7). Clinically significant psychological distress was identified among cancer (57.2%), diabetes (57.0%), CRESD (45.2%) and CVD patients (43.1%), with criterion for major depression symptoms met for cancer (42.9%), diabetes (39.2%), CVD (30.0%) and CRESD (28.8%). Most severe palliative care concerns were: first sharing feelings (i.e., not at all/not very often), reported by CVD (28%), CRESD (23%), cancer (22%) and diabetes (21%) patients; second help and advice (i.e., none/very little), among cancer (28%), CVD (26%), diabetes (22%), and CRESD (16%) patients. High prevalence of moderate-to-severe pain was reported (cancer 54%, CVD 41%, CRESD 38%, diabetes 38%). Functional status, age, and presence of comorbidities were associated with physical and psychological symptom distress. CONCLUSION Given the high burden of physical and psychosocial symptoms and symptom distress, the findings highlight the need for integrated person-centered palliative care for NCDs to optimize care outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala Uganda and King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care (E.N.), Policy & Rehabilitation, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Richard A Powell
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, School of Public Health (R.A.P.), Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, England
| | - Steve Taylor
- Auckland University of Technology (S.T.), Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Lukas Radbruch
- Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital Bonn (L.R.), Bonn, Germany
| | - Rachel Freeman
- School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Namibia (R.F.), Windhoek, Namibia
| | - Desderius Haufiku
- School of Public Health, University of Namibia (D.H.), Windhoek, Namibia
| | | | - Wilson Acuda
- Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa, Hospice Africa Uganda (W.A.), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lameck Thambo
- Palliative Care Association of Malawi (L.T.), Blantyre, Malawi
| | | | | | | | - Richard Harding
- Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing Midwifery and Palliative Care (R.H.), Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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Namisango E, Luyirika EBK, Berger A. Cross Cultural Adaptation and Cognitive Testing of a Psycho-Social-Spiritual Healing Measure, the NIH Healing Experiences in All Life Stressors-NIH-HEALS. Glob Adv Health Med 2022; 11:21649561211067189. [PMID: 35096489 PMCID: PMC8793392 DOI: 10.1177/21649561211067189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer is associated with trauma and stress which impacts the physical, psychological, and spiritual/existential well-being of patients. Psychological/behavioral healing may help alleviate this distress and the associated health-related suffering. Psycho-Social-Spiritual healing outcome measures are thus needed to stimulate service development. The NIH Healing Experiences in All Life Stressors (NIH-HEALS), is a novel 35-item measure of psycho-social-spiritual healing, developed in USA and is yet to be validated and adapted for use in African countries. Objectives This study aimed to assess the face and content validity of the NIH-HEALS in the population of cancer patients in Uganda and to culturally adapt this measure. Methods Cross-sectional study using cognitive interviewing alongside standard piloting. We recruited adult (18 years and above) patients with advanced cancer from Hospice Africa Uganda. Interviews were conducted in two phases, using the think aloud technique and concurrent probing and were audio recorded. Phase 1 was used to identify initial concerns around clarity of the statements, and phase 2 further explored whether the issues of clarity had been addressed, alongside the standard cognitive interview parameters. The transcripts were imported into NVivo-12 analyzed using the content analysis technique and categorized using Tourengeau’s information processing model. Results We recruited thirty-five (35) patients: phase one (n = 5) two (n = 30). The median completion time was 20 minutes. Problems identified included comprehension of some statements, words, and phrases, suggestions to include local examples, highlighting of potentially sensitive statements that lean towards difficult conversations, and some cultural differences in the construction of the “Trust and Acceptance” construct, our sample showed less emphasis on family/friend relations. This feedback was used to adapt the NIH-HEALS for the local context. Conclusion The NIH-HEALS has sufficient face and content validity properties to be used among palliative cancer patients in Uganda. We propose some changes to inform the adaptation of this measure for the local context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala Uganda
- African Field Epidemiology Network, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Ann Berger
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Namisango E, Bhakta N, Wolfe J, McNeil MJ, Powell RA, Kibudde S, Luyirika EBK, Mulema V, Feudtner C, Baker JN. Status of Palliative Oncology Care for Children and Young People in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Perspective Paper on Priorities for New Frontiers. JCO Glob Oncol 2021; 7:1395-1405. [PMID: 34546790 PMCID: PMC8457851 DOI: 10.1200/go.21.00102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of cancer disproportionately affects low- and middle-income countries. Low 5-year survival figures for children with cancer in low-income countries are due to late presentation at diagnosis, treatment abandonment, absence of sophisticated multidisciplinary care, and lack of adequate resources. The reasons for late presentation are partly due to limited awareness of cancer symptoms, high treatment costs, and facility-level barriers to timely access to treatment. Given the systemic challenges, the regional need for palliative oncology care for children care is high. Despite the enormity of the need for palliative oncology for children with cancer in Africa, its level of development remains poor. This paper presents the evidence on the status of palliative oncology care for children in sub-Saharan Africa. Countries must prioritize integration of pediatric palliative care in SSA pediatric oncology.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda.,Cicely Saunders Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nickhill Bhakta
- Global Pediatric Medicine, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Joanne Wolfe
- Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA.,Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
| | - Michael J McNeil
- Division of Quality of Life and Palliative Care, Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Richard A Powell
- Department of Primary Care and Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.,MWAPO Health Development Group, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Solomon Kibudde
- Department of Medical Oncology, Uganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Chris Feudtner
- Department of Medical Ethics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.,Departments of Pediatrics and of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, The Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Justin N Baker
- Division of Quality of Life and Palliative Care, Department of Oncology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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Afolabi OA, Abboah-Offei M, Namisango E, Chukwusa E, Oluyase AO, Luyirika EBK, Harding R, Nkhoma K. Do the Clinical Management Guidelines for Covid-19 in African Countries Reflect the African Quality Palliative Care Standards? A Review of Current Guidelines. J Pain Symptom Manage 2021; 61:e17-e23. [PMID: 33617951 PMCID: PMC7894087 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.01.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Palliative care should be a component of COVID-19 management to relieve suffering, improve patient outcomes and save cost. OBJECTIVES We aimed to identify and critically appraise the palliative care recommendations within COVID-19 case management guidelines in African countries. METHODS The study employed systematic guideline review design. All guidelines from any country in Africa, of any language, published between December 2019 and June 2020 were retrieved through online search and email to in-country key contacts. We conducted a content analysis of the palliative care recommendations within the guidelines and appraised the recommendations using African Palliative Care Association standards for providing quality palliative care. RESULTS We retrieved documents from 29 of 54 African countries. Fifteen documents from 15 countries were included in the final analysis, of which eight countries have identifiable PC recommendations in their COVID-19 management guidelines. Of these eight, only one country (South Sudan) provided comprehensive palliative care recommendations covering the domains of physical, psychological, social and spiritual wellbeing, two (Namibia and Uganda) addressed only physical and psychological wellbeing while the remaining five countries addressed only physical symptom management. CONCLUSIONS Comprehensive palliative care which addresses physical, psychological, social and spiritual concerns must be prioritized within case management guidelines in African countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oladayo A Afolabi
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK; Department of Nursing Science, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria.
| | - Mary Abboah-Offei
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Eve Namisango
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK; African Palliative Care Association
| | - Emeka Chukwusa
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adejoke O Oluyase
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Richard Harding
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Kennedy Nkhoma
- Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, Florence Nightingale Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Palliative Care, King's College London, London, UK
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Namisango E, Allsop MJ, Powell RA, Friedrichsdorf SJ, Luyirika EBK, Kiyange F, Mukooza E, Ntege C, Garanganga E, Ginindza-Mdluli MN, Mwangi-Powell F, Mondlane LJ, Harding R. Investigation of the Practices, Legislation, Supply Chain, and Regulation of Opioids for Clinical Pain Management in Southern Africa: A Multi-sectoral, Cross-National, Mixed Methods Study. J Pain Symptom Manage 2018; 55:851-863. [PMID: 29155288 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2017.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Sub-Saharan Africa faces an increasing incidence and prevalence of life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. These conditions are associated with a significant burden of pain linked to high morbidity and disability that is poorly assessed and undertreated. Barriers to effective pain management partly relate to lack of access to opioid analgesia and challenges in their administration. OBJECTIVES To identify country-specific and broader regional barriers to access, as well as the administration of opioids, and generate recommendations for advancing pain management in Southern Africa. METHODS A parallel mixed methods design was used across three countries: Mozambique, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Three activities were undertaken: 1) a review of regulatory and policy documentation, 2) group interviews, and 3) a self-administered key informant survey. RESULTS Barriers to accessing opioid analgesics for medical use include overly restrictive controlled medicines' laws; use of stigmatizing language in key documents; inaccurate actual opioid consumption estimation practices; knowledge gaps in the distribution, storage, and prescription of opioids; critical shortage of prescribers; and high out-of-pocket financial expenditures for patients against a backdrop of high levels of poverty. CONCLUSION Policies and relevant laws should be updated to ensure that the legislative environment supports opioid access for pain management. Action plans for improving pain treatment for patients suffering from HIV or non-communicable diseases should address barriers at the different levels of the supply chain that involve policymakers, administrators, and service providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda; Uganda and King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK.
| | - Matthew J Allsop
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | | | - Stefan J Friedrichsdorf
- Department of Pain Medicine, Palliative Care and Integrative Medicine, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emmanuel B K Luyirika
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda; Uganda and King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK
| | - Fatia Kiyange
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda; Uganda and King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Richard Harding
- King's College London, Cicely Saunders Institute, London, UK
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Namisango E, Ntege C, Luyirika EBK, Kiyange F, Allsop MJ. Strengthening pharmaceutical systems for palliative care services in resource limited settings: piloting a mHealth application across a rural and urban setting in Uganda. BMC Palliat Care 2016; 15:20. [PMID: 26895882 PMCID: PMC4759774 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-016-0092-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Medicine availability is improving in sub-Saharan Africa for palliative care services. There is a need to develop strong and sustainable pharmaceutical systems to enhance the proper management of palliative care medicines, some of which are controlled. One approach to addressing these needs is the use of mobile technology to support data capture, storage and retrieval. Utilizing mobile technology in healthcare (mHealth) has recently been highlighted as an approach to enhancing palliative care services but development is at an early stage. METHODS An electronic application was implemented as part of palliative care services at two settings in Uganda; a rural hospital and an urban hospice. Measures of the completeness of data capture, time efficiency of activities and medicines stock and waste management were taken pre- and post-implementation to identify changes to practice arising from the introduction of the application. RESULTS Improvements in all measures were identified at both sites. The application supported the registration and management of 455 patients and a total of 565 consultations. Improvements in both time efficiency and medicines management were noted. Time taken to collect and report pharmaceuticals data was reduced from 7 days to 30 min and 10 days to 1 h at the urban hospice and rural hospital respectively. Stock expiration reduced from 3 to 0.5% at the urban hospice and from 58 to 0% at the rural hospital. Additional observations relating to the use of the application across the two sites are reported. CONCLUSIONS A mHealth approach adopted in this study was shown to improve existing processes for patient record management, pharmacy forecasting and supply planning, procurement, and distribution of essential health commodities for palliative care services. An important next step will be to identify where and how such mHealth approaches can be implemented more widely to improve pharmaceutical systems for palliative care services in resource limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eve Namisango
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda.
| | | | | | - Fatia Kiyange
- African Palliative Care Association, Kampala, Uganda.
| | - Matthew J Allsop
- Academic Unit of Palliative Care, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
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