Miriam Mutebi: Why We Need to Expand Research in Palliative and Supportive Care
Miriam Mutebi, Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital, shared on LinkedIn :
“Why we need to expand research in palliative and supportive care
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.
That’s why palliative and supportive care research matters.
In Africa, we talk often about access to treatment, and rightly so. 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.
Palliative and supportive care is how we address this. And research is how we make it better, reach more people, and adapt it to our realities.
Here’s why expanding this research is essential:
1. Bridging a Major Care Gap In many African countries, palliative care services are concentrated in a few urban centers. Research shows us where the gaps are, who is being left behind, and what models of care work best, whether in hospitals, community settings, or homes.
2. Culturally Relevant, Locally Rooted Solutions Palliative care is deeply personal. Research ensures that our care models respect cultural values, family structures, and spiritual needs, so they’re not merely imported, but shaped by African realities.
3. Evidence for Policy and Funding Without strong evidence, palliative care is often sidelined. Data proves it’s not just compassionate, it’s cost-effective. It reduces unnecessary hospital stays, improves patient and caregiver well-being, and strengthens health systems.
4. Supporting the Full Care Journey
Palliative and supportive care is not just for end-of-life.
Research improves:
- Symptom control during active treatment.
- Psychosocial support for families.
- Rehabilitation and reintegration after intensive therapy.
5. Empowering the Workforce
We need more trained professionals, nurses, community health workers (CHWs), clinicians who can deliver this care. Research identifies training needs, evaluates programs, and helps retain talent in underserved areas.
When we study how care succeeds (and fails), we can design solutions that fit our realities, policies rooted in local evidence, training that works for our workforce, and partnerships that last.
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.
Check out this latest study on palliative care research on ecancer.”
Title: The state of global palliative care research: a bibliometric study
Authors: Mevhibe B Hocaoglu, Grant Lewison, Hamish Sharp, Tania Pastrana, Eve Namisango, James Cleary, Barbara Hasties, Eric Kabisa, Helena M
Read the Full Article in ecancer.
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