The challenges of palliative care in primary health care

Abstract

Objective: Review and describe the role of Primary Health Care (PHC) in patient management in Palliative Care (PC), based on an analysis of the current literature on the subject. Bibliographic review: PC is associated with an improvement in the quality of life of patients who face serious illnesses and their families. In this context, PHC is seen as the best place to practice PC, as it aims to provide comprehensive care for patients and their families, based on a closer relationship with the health team. However, PC is still a challenge for the Unified Health System, mainly due to the high demand resulting from population aging and the increase in chronic diseases, the non-availability of trained technological and human resources and the scarcity of specific government programs. Final considerations: It is extremely important to implement health guidelines and protocols aimed at developing PCs, greater professional training and encouragement for greater social awareness and involvement of the community as a whole with the population's health issues.