Palliative care as a human right: family caregivers' perceptions and experiences of access and quality at Ho Teaching Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Palliative care is a fundamental component of universal health coverage and is internationally recognised as a human right. However, the perceptions and experiences of family caregivers in Ghana regarding access to and the quality of palliative care as a human right are still not well understood. AIMS: The study explored family caregivers' perceptions and experiences regarding access to and quality of palliative care as a human right at Ho Teaching Hospital. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive design was used, and 10 family caregivers aged 18 years old and older were purposively selected. In-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted. The data were analysed using conventional content analysis. FINDINGS: The study revealed that family caregivers often perceived palliative care as an unfamiliar concept, and it was not widely recognised as a human right. Many described accessing care during the end of life as a favour rather than an entitlement, highlighting perceived inequities in service provision. Caregivers reported significant financial and emotional strain, compounded by long waiting times, staff shortages and occasional challenges in obtaining essential medications. CONCLUSIONS: Though palliative care is declared as a human right, significant challenges persist in knowing and accessing these services. Addressing awareness, equity and system-level barriers is vital for improving palliative care delivery.