On World Palliative Care Day, the Portuguese Observatory warns of persistent inequalities and calls for effective policies that guarantee equitable access for all citizens.
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day was celebrated on October 11 under the slogan “Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care.” The event once again brought to the forefront a universal human right—equitable access to palliative care—which is still far from a reality for most Portuguese citizens.
Care beyond illness
In this month dedicated to raising awareness in this area, it is important to remember that palliative care is an integrated and humanized response, fundamental in addressing the physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs of people facing serious, progressive, or terminal illnesses.
More than just treating symptoms, this care seeks to promote quality of life and alleviate suffering, supporting the person and their family throughout the entire process of illness and grief.
Persistent inequalities
Despite progress, profound inequalities in access to palliative care persist, both between developed and developing countries and within populations themselves.
Factors such as geographical location, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or religious beliefs continue to limit access to this basic right.
This year's motto reinforces the need to ensure universal access to palliative care as a public health response and an instrument of social justice and equity.
Portugal still has limited access
In Portugal, the Portuguese Observatory on Palliative Care (OPCP) warns that around 70% of the population still does not have access to palliative care in a timely manner. With the increase in the prevalence of chronic and progressive diseases, such as dementia and cancer, a significant growth in the number of people with palliative needs is expected.
The lack of adequate and timely responses already has serious consequences, compromising the ability to alleviate serious health-related suffering.
A recent OPCP study estimates that, in 2022, 160,748 patients will have needed palliative care, accumulating 54,976,435 days of suffering—an average of 258 days per person. The diseases that contributed most to these figures were dementia (58,707 patients; 16,709,630 days of suffering) and non-hematological cancer (48,734 patients; 26,399,802 days of suffering).
Knowledge and political action
Given this scenario, the Observatory reinforces its commitment to the Portuguese population by promoting knowledge, research, and quality practices in this area. It is currently part of the European PAL-Cycles project, which studies the transition process to palliative care in cancer patients, between the hospital and the home, with the aim of improving coordination and access in different healthcare contexts.
The data now released are a clear warning: there is an urgent need to define effective and sustainable public policies that guarantee equitable access to palliative care throughout the country — for all people, regardless of age, economic status, or place of residence.