OCTOBER 2008 — Palliative care—the combination of measures that relieves suffering and improves quality of life for those facing life-threatening illness—begins from the point of diagnosis and continues through death and bereavement. Palliative care is one of the most important forms of care for individuals with active, progressive, or far-advanced illness. Yet millions continue to endure pain or distressing psychosocial and spiritual suffering. Millions more struggle to care for sick loved ones or grieve their loss. And a vast number of children need palliative care, but their access to programs is even more limited than for adults.

Family Health International has long recognized the importance of palliative care in its public health programs. This document defines the need, explains the technical approach, and suggests illustrative activities for FHI country offices and implementing partners working toward the goal of providing palliative care for all chronically ill individuals and their families. The strategy supports adapting palliative care services to the communities and environments where they are provided. Whether facility- or community-based, service delivery must meet the holistic needs of patients and families throughout a continuum of care: from home to facility and back, and from diagnosis through the course of disease to death and bereavement.