Pediatric Palliative Care in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The oldest palliative care program in Saudi Arabia is now two decades old. The program was designed in a general format to accommodate adults and children with life-limiting conditions. To date, the great majority of clients receiving services in palliative care programs in Saudi Arabia continue to be adults with advanced cancer. No specific pediatric palliative care programs or advocacy groups exist in Saudi Arabia. The efforts of some health institutions in pursuing staff specialization in pediatric palliative care are still in their infancy. In view of the paramount need for pediatric palliative care services and the relatively slow development of palliative care programs in general, development of palliative care needs to be raised on the health policy-makers’ agenda with due consideration to pediatric palliative care programs in particular. Although, the adoption of palliative care-friendly policies and the improvement of access to essential medications are important steps in Saudi Arabia, the pivotal step towards better development of palliative care is probably the training of health professionals.