Box 52.4WHO Pain Relief and Palliative Care Recommendations Based on Resource Level
WHO's recommendations are as follows:
Countries with low levels of resources should ensure that minimum standards for pain relief and palliative care are progressively adopted at all levels of care throughout the country. Countries also should ensure that patient coverage is high through services provided mainly by home-based care. Home-based care is generally the best way to achieve good-quality care and coverage in countries with strong family support and poor health care infrastructure. However, many patients are cared for in large cancer hospitals, and these institutions should have pain relief and palliative care available to all patients.
Countries with medium levels of resources should ensure that minimum standards for pain relief and palliative care are progressively adopted at all levels of care and that, nationwide, coverage of patients is increasing through services provided by health care workers and home-based care.
Countries with high levels of resources should ensure that national pain relief and palliative care guidelines are adopted by all levels of care and that, nationwide, patient coverage is high through a variety of options, including home-based care.
