The legal needs of people receiving palliative care in Uganda: a multi-method assessment to advance universal health coverage
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Background:
Palliative care (PC), a holistic approach to care for persons living with serious illness or injury, is a crucial component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal 3. While Uganda has made commendable progress in improving PC access, the legal aspects of PC provision remain underexplored.
Objectives:
Considering knowledge gaps regarding the legal aspects of PC in Uganda, this study sought to assess the legal needs and challenges faced by persons receiving PC in the country.
Design:
Cross-sectional design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Methods:
The quantitative arm surveyed 384 individuals receiving PC across three study sites, comprising public and not-for-profit private healthcare institutions. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. The qualitative arm involved 25 key informant interviews conducted with healthcare providers, legal and human rights experts, and medicines supply chain professionals, along with four focus group discussions involving 40 individuals receiving PC at two study sites. Qualitative analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.
Results:
Both quantitative and qualitative findings revealed significant legal challenges and practical obstacles faced by persons receiving PC in Uganda. Participants reported a lack of access to high-quality PC services, including legal assistance. Legal challenges included limited awareness of patients’ legal rights, the need for increased legal support in areas such as succession planning and will-making, and legal barriers associated with ensuring an adequate supply of opioids for pain management.
Conclusion:
Based on findings of unmet legal needs among individuals receiving PC in Uganda, this study provides recommendations to address these needs, strategically and pragmatically maximizing patients’ quality of life and well-being and advancing PC provision as part of UHC.
Trial registration:
Not applicable.
Palliative care (PC), a holistic approach to care for persons living with serious illness or injury, is a crucial component of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goal 3. While Uganda has made commendable progress in improving PC access, the legal aspects of PC provision remain underexplored.
Objectives:
Considering knowledge gaps regarding the legal aspects of PC in Uganda, this study sought to assess the legal needs and challenges faced by persons receiving PC in the country.
Design:
Cross-sectional design utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods.
Methods:
The quantitative arm surveyed 384 individuals receiving PC across three study sites, comprising public and not-for-profit private healthcare institutions. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. The qualitative arm involved 25 key informant interviews conducted with healthcare providers, legal and human rights experts, and medicines supply chain professionals, along with four focus group discussions involving 40 individuals receiving PC at two study sites. Qualitative analysis was used to analyze the qualitative data.
Results:
Both quantitative and qualitative findings revealed significant legal challenges and practical obstacles faced by persons receiving PC in Uganda. Participants reported a lack of access to high-quality PC services, including legal assistance. Legal challenges included limited awareness of patients’ legal rights, the need for increased legal support in areas such as succession planning and will-making, and legal barriers associated with ensuring an adequate supply of opioids for pain management.
Conclusion:
Based on findings of unmet legal needs among individuals receiving PC in Uganda, this study provides recommendations to address these needs, strategically and pragmatically maximizing patients’ quality of life and well-being and advancing PC provision as part of UHC.
Trial registration:
Not applicable.
Date Issued
2025-08-01
Date Acceptance
2025-05-19
Citation
Palliative Care and Social Practice, 2025, 19
ISSN
2632-3524
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Journal / Book Title
Palliative Care and Social Practice
Volume
19
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2025. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) which permits any use, reproduction and distribution of the work without further permission provided the original work is attributed as specified on the SAGE and Open Access pages (https://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/open-access-at-sage).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/40584975
PII: 10.1177_26323524251347652
Subjects
Uganda
Universal Health Coverage
end of life
global health
health policy
human rights
palliative care
serious illness
will
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
United States
Article Number
26323524251347652
Date Publish Online
2025-06-26