6.1 What is palliative care?

Palliative care is the prevention and relief of the physical, psychological, social and spiritual suffering of adults and children with serious illnesses and psychosocial support for their families (94, 95). The prevalence, types and severity of suffering of people with TB vary by geopolitical situation, socioeconomic conditions, culture, accessibility of primary and specialized health care, and the susceptibility of their TB to anti-TB medicines. Attention to local needs is necessary for palliative care services to be person-centred: tailored to local needs and to the needs of individual patients and families (94, 96).

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