Developing Palliative Care in Asia - Short Film

More than half of all patients with cancer experience pain. In advanced disease, close to two thirds of patients report pain, about half of whom suffer pain of moderate-to-severe intensity. If cancer pain is not adequately treated, it can have devastating consequences that affect the quality of life of patients and their families. Palliative care improves the lives of patients and their families.  Watch ‘Life asked Death’ now and learn how palliative care services can be developed in ALL countries.

Needs in Asia

The Asian population is huge and so is the scale of suffering. We know how to relieve the suffering, but somehow are doing very little to transform this knowledge into action. As a result, around 11 million Asians a year will die in pain and distress because they lack access to pain medications.

Impossible to Ignore

Relief of suffering is an ethical imperative.

We cannot walk away from suffering when we know we can do something about it.

Huge Numbers

Asia has a vast sea of humanity.

Half of the world:

• More than half (60%) of the world’s population lives in Asia. Many of these people live in developing economies.
• Almost half of the world do not have access to palliative care services

In Asia, it is estimated that:

• 24 million people need palliative care yearly, including more than 1 million children under 15.
• 11 million persons will die in pain and distress due to lack of access to pain medications
• Up to 80% of cancers in developing countries are diagnosed in advanced stages when cure is unlikely