In this episode, we shift from global migration health systems to a critical but often under-recognised dimension of health system performance: palliative care.

Building on broader discussions of equity, access, and system resilience, this episode examines how the availability and accessibility of palliative care reflect deeper structural strengths and weaknesses within healthcare systems.

Drawing on peer-reviewed research by Sharvari Patil and Sulkhan Inaishvili, we present a structured, evidence-informed analysis of palliative care in Georgia.

Key insights include:
• The global burden of serious health-related suffering, affecting more than 61 million people annually
• WHO estimates that only ~14% of those in need receive palliative care worldwide
• Concentration of opioid access in a small number of high-income countries, leaving over 80% of the global population underserved
• Structural barriers in Georgia, including limited geographic coverage and urban concentration of services
• Gaps in workforce capacity, training, and integration into mainstream healthcare delivery
• Regulatory and administrative constraints affecting access to opioid analgesics

Palliative care is increasingly recognised as a core component of universal health coverage (UHC) and people-centred health systems.

This episode reframes palliative care not only as a clinical service, but as a health system indicator—a tracer of:
• Equity
• Continuity of care
• Access to essential medicines

Unmet need in palliative care reveals systemic gaps in:
• Service delivery
• Governance
• Health system design

Georgia provides a compelling case study of a health system in transition. Despite ongoing reforms, palliative care remains insufficiently developed, with limited community-based services, regulatory barriers, and uneven regional access.

Patil S, Inaishvili S.
Palliative Care as a Health System Indicator in Georgia: Unmet Need, Access Barriers, and Policy Implications.
Georgian Medical Journal. 2026;1(1):14–34
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19050661

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The Georgian Medical Journal Podcast is the official knowledge translation platform of the Georgian Medical Journal (GMJ), designed to bridge scientific evidence with policy and practice.

Each episode translates peer-reviewed research into accessible, policy-relevant insights for clinicians, researchers, and decision-makers worldwide.

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