Work

Patients’ palliative care needs in rural health and a proposal for palliation services

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Few patients and their families receive palliative care (PC), and if provided, it is usually in the end stages of the disease. In the past, these services were rendered by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), but after the dedicated South African palliative care policy was released, the responsibility of PC service delivery is at the provincial level. Department of Health's National Policy Framework and Strategy on PC was a major step forward in palliation; however, the services are not yet reaching the rural areas in North West province. This article highlights the need for PC for patients and their families in rural health. A model is suggested to facilitate these services under the leadership of a family physician.

Source: African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine

DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v17i1.4866

Authors: Deidre Pretorius, Lesley G. Mahole

Institution: University of the Witwatersrand

Language: English

Topic: Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $567