Overview of palliative care in Latin America

In 1985, approximately 50 million people died in the world of which 37.9 million were in developing countries, where cancer was the cause in 10% of the cases. In these developing countries, most cancer resources are destined to curative treatments, which do not always have the best results. Roughly 12.7 million new cases are diagnosed globally each year; without substantial improvement in cancer control, it is predicted that this worldwide annual toll will rise to 21.3 million new cancer cases and 13.1 million deaths by 2030. That is why education, along with rules to facilitate the availability of opioid analgesics and the development of health programs, is one of the basic pillars for implementing a successful palliative care program, which is available for the entire population. Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for patients with advanced illnesses and their families through specific knowledge and skills, including communication with patients and family members; management of pain and other symptoms; psychosocial, spiritual, and bereavement support; and coordination of an array of medical and social services.