“Leave no one behind: Equity in access to palliative care.”
World Palliative Care Day is a moment to recognize that healthcare is not only about curing disease — it’s also about caring, comforting, and preserving dignity until the very end. Everyone deserves the best possible care, regardless of who they are or where they live.
Globally, more than 50 million people die each year, and it is estimated that around 60% would benefit from hospice and palliative care. Yet access remains deeply unequal: only about 14% of the 73 million adults and children who need palliative care actually receive it. Most of this need is met in high-income countries, while in low- and middle-income regions only 4% of the population in need is served. The COVID-19 pandemic has further exposed these disparities, highlighting the urgent need to integrate palliative care into public health systems worldwide.
Palliative care is about the whole person — their physical comfort, emotional well-being, social environment, and spiritual peace. It aims to ease pain and suffering while supporting families and caregivers through counselling, practical help, and compassion. Studies show that early integration of palliative care in cancer treatment can improve symptom control, quality of life, and even survival rates.
According to the World Health Organization, palliative care development should follow a public health approach that includes policy, education, medicine availability, and community empowerment. In many countries, especially where health resources are limited, training healthcare professionals and raising public awareness can make a real difference. Local communities, volunteers, and patient organizations play a vital role in reaching those who might otherwise be left behind — offering presence, empathy, and human warmth that no medical intervention can replace.
In Greece, the Hellenic Society of Medical Oncology (HeSMO) has emphasized the importance of developing a national palliative care framework. Every year, more than 120,000 people in Greece are estimated to need such care — nearly 37% of them cancer patients — but specialized services remain limited, particularly outside large cities. The HeSMO position paper calls for education, policy support, and the inclusion of palliative care at all levels of the healthcare system.
At Kapa3, we stand with patients and families who face serious illness. Through awareness, advocacy, and human connection, we work toward a healthcare model that values quality of life as much as longevity. Palliative care is not about giving up — it’s about living fully, with dignity, comfort, and compassion, every step of the way.
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