Global Access to Specialized Palliative Care Grows, But Major Barriers Remain
A new study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management estimates that specialized palliative care services reached 33,700 teams worldwide in 2025, a 33% increase since 2017. The number of patients served rose to 10.4 million, yet this still accounts for only about 14% of the global need for palliative care. While access has expanded in most regions, disparities persist, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where just 4.4% of the need is met by specialist services. The findings underscore the need to strengthen both specialist and primary palliative care to bridge the gap.