The global need for children’s palliative care

In the 2015 World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Report, Joan Marston, CEO of the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) looks at the research that is presently being undertaken to give more accurate estimates of the global need for children’s palliative care. 

She writes:

Previous estimations on the need for palliative care for children have been based either on mortality or on using data from the United Kingdom to estimate a global figure, however both have limitations. To gain a better picture of the global need, the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) and UNICEF carried out research in South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe into the need and coverage of children’s palliative care services in 2013. Results show the need in developing countries is considerably higher than in a developed country and access to children’s palliative care was low in all three countries – less than 1% in Kenya and less than 5% in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Ongoing research

This research is ongoing in other countries. The ICPCN estimates that the global need for general palliative care for children will be at least 20 million and at least 8 million for specialised services. As only 66 countries have any specialised palliative care services ICPCN estimates that globally less than 1% of children with life-limiting conditions are receiving palliative care.

Barriers

There are a number of barriers to children accessing palliative care services. Lack of trained health care workers and resources is often quoted, yet Malawi, which is a low-income country has well-developed programmes and a number of trained health care workers. In the experience of the ICPCN, a dedicated and committed leader in a country can develop children’s palliative care to a high standard, even when resources are limited.

This article is based on a case study in the report: Hidden Lives, Hidden Patients, commissioned for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2015. The report can be found on the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance website and will be officially launched on 10 October 2015 as part of the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day celebrations. To find out more or to register an event for the Day, please visit the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day webpage.