Palliative Care Programme
Improving the quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening illness through early identification, assessment and treatment of pain, physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs.
Programme Overview
A compassionate care programme focused on comfort, dignity, quality of life, family support and holistic care for people facing life-threatening illness.
What Is The Programme?
Palliative care improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing problems associated with life-threatening illness through prevention and relief of suffering.
Why Implement It?
- Universal Health Coverage includes palliative care.
- Supports people living with cancer, dementia, COPD, cardiovascular disease and HIV.
- Addresses the growing need for palliative care in communities and primary health care.
Aim
To provide evidence-based, cost-effective and equitable palliative care services across all levels of care, with emphasis on primary care, community and home-based care.
Specific Objectives
- Provide comprehensive and integrated palliative care in home and community settings.
- Support civil society organisations and patient support groups.
- Provide bereavement counselling.
- Strengthen support for patients, families and caregivers.
Key Care Components
The programme combines public education, holistic assessment, symptom management, personalised care planning and family support.
- Raise awareness of palliative care in the general population.
- Make available palliative care resources and tools.
- Conduct public education activities.
- Initial and ongoing holistic assessment, including spiritual needs.
- Personalised care plans.
- Pain management.
- Management of symptoms such as constipation, fatigue, delirium, nausea, vomiting, breathlessness, insomnia and oral problems.
- Management of wounds, ulcers, skin rashes and lesions.
- Nutrition and hydration support.
- Support for patients, families and caregivers.
- Communication regarding diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
- Advance care planning and respite care.
- Psychological and spiritual support.
- Crisis management, end-of-life care and paediatric palliative care.
- Bereavement counselling and support.
Who Provides Services?
- Primary Health Care providers
- Oncology and Haemodialysis Unit staff
- Volunteers, social workers and NGOs
Who Is Eligible?
- Persons with life-threatening, progressive or advanced disease.
- Families, caregivers, elderly persons and vulnerable populations.
Referral Routes
- Health care provider referrals.
- Social care provider referrals.
- Partner agency referrals.
Where Delivered?
- Primary Health Care settings
- Hospice and homes
- Prisons and residential aged-care institutions