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Current Status of Palliative Care Nursing in Egypt: Clinical Implementation, Education and Research

Karima Elshamy

Cancer in the developing world is characterized by far more advanced stages at diagnosis, fewer allocated resources for prevention and treatment, and higher incidence than in countries with more developed health systems. In Egypt, it is already and will become an important health problem not only in terms of rank order, but also in terms of incidence and mortality. The commonest sites were liver among men and breast among women. During the period 2013–2050, population of Egypt is expected to increase to approximately 160% the 2013 population size. Applying the current age-specific incidence rates to successive populations would lead to a progressive increase in number of incident. The resources for cancer control in Egypt are directed almost exclusively to treatment. Most cancers present at an advanced stage (stage III and IV) when cure is improbable even with the best treatments. Comprehensive cancer care requires the integration of palliative care practices and principles across the trajectory of the cancer experience and may be the sole focus of care for those patients with advanced incurable disease. As the incidence of cancer increases worldwide and the burden of cancer rises, especially in low and middle resource countries, the need for palliative care is greater than ever before and this care is most effectively provided by a multidisciplinary team. According to WHO, 40% of cancers could be avoided (prevention), 40% could be cured (if detected early) and the rest should be managed with palliation. So, expansion of palliative care services to a larger number of patients and illnesses throughout the country, considering home-based palliative care service is urgently and badly needed, strengthening health care systems; focusing on patient centred care, education and training to all levels of health care professionals.