A bibliometric study, The state of global palliative care research: a bibliometric study, Ecancer Medicalscience, July 2025, reveals that while global palliative care research (PCR) is expanding, Africa remains underrepresented despite the continent’s growing burden of serious illness and cancer.
“Despite the increasing need, palliative care and the associated research continue to be relatively neglected areas of medicine, especially in less-developed countries,” the authors note.
“You can’t measure hope in lab results, but you can in the relief of pain, the dignity of care, and the comfort of knowing you’re not alone,” says Dr. Miriam Mutebi, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Vice-President (East Africa) of AORTIC.
Research Is Rising, But Not Equally Shared
Between 2013 and 2022, PCR publications increased from 0.29% to 0.62% of all biomedical research. Yet, high-income countries like Ireland and Australia dominate the field, while LMICs—including many in Africa—struggle to contribute meaningfully.
“Palliative care should be integrated as a core component of national cancer control plans,” the study recommends, urging policymakers to prioritise holistic, patient-centred approaches.
“In Africa, we talk often about access to treatment, and rightly so,” Dr. Mutebi notes. “But for millions living with cancer or other serious illnesses, there’s another urgent need: ensuring quality of life, from diagnosis through the end of life.”
Cancer Dominates, But Other Areas Need Attention
Cancer remains the most studied disease in PCR (29.5%), followed by mental health and cardiovascular conditions. However, only 7.3% of research focuses on children despite their significant need for palliative care, and just 3% addresses workforce training.
What Is Palliative Care?
Palliative care is specialised medical care for people living with serious illnesses. It focuses not on curing disease but on improving quality of life by relieving pain, managing symptoms, and offering emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support to patients and their families. It can be provided alongside curative treatment or as standalone care, from diagnosis through end-of-life.
Dr. Mutebi emphasises that palliative care is not just for end-of-life:
“Research improves symptom control during active treatment, psychosocial support for families, and rehabilitation after intensive therapy. It supports the full care journey.”
Why Africa Must Expand Palliative Care Research
Dr. Mutebi outlines five key reasons why Africa must invest in locally driven PCR:
1. Bridging Care Gaps
Most services are urban-based. Research helps identify underserved populations and test scalable models for hospitals, communities, and homes.
2. Culturally Rooted Solutions
“Palliative care is deeply personal,” she says. “Our models must reflect African values, family structures, and spiritual needs—not just imported frameworks.”
3. Evidence for Policy & Funding
Strong data prove palliative care is cost-effective, reduces hospital stays, and improves patient and caregiver well-being—critical for influencing health policy.
4. Empowering the Workforce
Africa needs more trained nurses, clinicians, and CHWs. Research guides training programs and helps retain talent in underserved areas.
5. Building Sustainable Systems
“When we study how care succeeds (and fails), we can design solutions that fit our realities—policies rooted in local evidence, training that works, and partnerships that last.”
With 60 million people experiencing serious health-related suffering each year, the need for equitable, evidence-based palliative care is urgent. The study calls for targeted investments, international collaboration, and research agendas that reflect real-world needs.
“Research is key in generating evidence across settings… leading to better symptom control, reduced hospitalisations and enhanced patient and family satisfaction,” the authors emphasise.
The eCancer study concludes that global PCR must be more inclusive, with targeted investments in LMICs. Dr. Mutebi agrees:
“At its heart, palliative and supportive care research is not just about medicine. It’s about dignity, humanity, and the simple truth that every life, no matter the stage, is worth living well.”
