Making palliative care accessible to the general population

AS the Covid-19 pandemic takes its devastating toll on people and economies worldwide, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, cancer, diabetes, stroke, and chronic lung diseases continue to pose the greatest health threats to mankind.

NCDs are responsible for approximately 41 million deaths (almost 70% of all deaths worldwide) every year. Sadly, about 82% of those who die prematurely from NCDs and their attendant complications are in low- and middle-income countries, and most deaths occur after long periods of hospitalisation and costly treatments.