Extending palliative care for underserved populations: time to act

Palliative care may have its genesis in cancer, but over the past two decades it has been expanded to include people living with other chronic life-limiting illnesses. As a result there is now growing international acceptance that access to palliative care is a basic human right (Gwyther, Brennan, & Harding, 2009). However, making this a reality requires that access to palliative care services is assured for a number of underserved or marginalised populations. Other examples include First Nations people (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people), people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and/or Intersex; people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; homeless persons, prisoners, refugees and people with a disability (Australian Government, 2018), as well as people living in rural and remote areas is an ongoing concern.