Abdul-Rahman T, Badar SM, Ali MA, Kundu M, Ademeta E, Awuah WA. The current state of neuropalliative care in developing countries. Where are we now?
Postgrad Med J 2023:7193771. [PMID:
37302084 DOI:
10.1093/postmj/qgad031]
[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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The need for improved palliative care in developing countries is great. Of 58 million people who die every year, 45 million die in developing countries. An estimated 60% (27 million) of these people in poor nations would benefit from palliative care, and this number is growing as chronic diseases such as cancer rise rapidly. Yet a combination of highly restrictive policies on opioid prescription and a lack of awareness within the medical profession conspire to deprive patients of palliative care. Human rights advocates argue that this neglect is a breach of human rights that is tantamount to torture. This editorial explores the neuropalliative approach and addresses the current state of neuropalliative care in developing countries.
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