RESUMO
In near future, the elderly population will increase to a high proportion. This will increase the burden of Age-Related Diseases (ARDs) to a significant level. Most of the ARDs need palliative care (PC) for a fairly long duration. Some statistical extrapolations are discussed to help in identifying this future burden. The existing PC centers are limited in numbers, situated mainly in urban areas, and mostly attached to cancer hospitals. Socioeconomic vulnerabilities of the elderly, especially in rural areas, are high, and access to health is also not optimal. In the coming decades, the number of needy people, as well as the demand for PC, will increase. Existing numbers indicate that exponential increment in quantum and quality of PC services is required to deal with the imminent burden. Specific suggestions are made to use existing public health programs to cater to the rural elderly.
RESUMO
Asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) are incurable but entirely preventable. Due to India's continuing use of asbestos, ARD patients will increase to a high number in the next three to four decades. This will increase the burden on palliative care system which is in nascent stage presently. Palliative care is the mainstay of the management of ARDs. Unfortunately, the burden on palliative care is likely to increase due to multiple factors contributed by India's demographic and economic changes. In the near future, there will be at least 12.5 million ARD patients and 1.25 million asbestos-related cancer patients worldwide, and half of these will be in India. It is high time to introspect about our ability to engage with this future problem. The paper also discusses the organization of this future problem of ARDs and possible action points toward future access to palliative care for ARD patients.
