Need palliative care policy as illness, caregiving burden families: Study

SERIOUS illnesses, such as cancer and neurological disorders, not only affect patients but also burden families socially and financially, according to two studies examining home-based palliative care in Kerala and Delhi.

- KAVITA BAJELI-DATT @New Delhi

These states, known for relatively better healthcare, still struggle with the financial and social consequences of caregiving.

The studies revealed that families often face agonizing choices between essential needs like medicines, food and education. Shockingly, about one in three families in both states fall into debt due to illness, highlighting a growing national issue of healthcare-related financial strain.