Palliative Care in COVID Times – Quality of Death Matters!!

Abstract

Palliative care for patients with chronic non-malignant diseases is a less addressed area. In-hospital care, particularly, critical care of elderly population with advanced organ failure, can lead to poor resource management. ICU beds come under the strained resource category, more so in the backdrop of the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Home-based palliative care ensures better comfort to the patient and their kin, at the same time facilitating better resource utilisation. This approach may also reduce the mental trauma caused by the loss of a dear one. Major hurdles in providing palliative care for the chronically ill are lack of awareness and financial constraints. The need of the hour is enhanced awareness and promotion of the practice of palliative care. A favourable change in government policy and budget allocation will go a long way in achieving this goal. Home-based palliative care paves the way to care for the subset of patients with end-stage organ failure in a more humane manner.