Beneficiary’s Satisfaction with Primary Palliative Care Services in Kerala – A Cross-Sectional Survey
Palliative care (PC), as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), is ‘an approach that improves the quality of life (QoL) of patients and their families who are facing problems associated with life-threatening illness.’ Globally, an estimated 56.8 million people, mostly from low- and middle-income countries, require PCs. Only 14% (globally) and 2% (nationally) of those in need have access to such services. Over the past 20 years, the State of Kerala has gained national and international acclaim for its distinctive PC model. The hallmarks of the Kerala PC model include community ownership, involvement of local self-governments (LSGs), a meticulous state policy, and incorporation of PC into primary healthcare. Estimates showed that Kerala, which makes up only 3% of the country’s total population, provides nearly two-thirds of India’s PC services.
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