AUTHOR=Salikhanov Islam , Connor Stephen R. , Kunirova Gulnara , Khashagulgova Fatima , Nazarova Gulzhaina , Crape Byron Lawrence , Katapodi Maria C. 

TITLE=Challenges for Developing Palliative Care Services in Resource- Limited Settings of Kazakhstan

JOURNAL=Public Health Reviews

VOLUME=Volume 44 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/public-health-reviews/articles/10.3389/phrs.2023.1605672

DOI=10.3389/phrs.2023.1605672

ISSN=2107-6952

ABSTRACT=Approximately 60 million people need palliative care worldwide, nearly 80% of whom live in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). As a Central Asian middle-income country with a transitional economy and a reforming healthcare system, Kazakhstan has recently taken on the task of integrating palliative care into the general healthcare system. Although palliative care services in Kazakhstan have significantly improved care for persons nearing the end of life, patients needing these services still suffer from pain, lack of access, and high out-of-pocket expenditures. This study presents an analysis of challenges, recent developments, and needs of palliative care in Kazakhstan, including funding mechanisms, healthcare policy, workforce needs, education needs, infrastructure availability, etc., providing an evidence base for future assessments and future research of palliative care in Kazakhstan and in other LMICs.