#53 | GMJ Podcast | Palliative Care in Georgia — Health System Gaps, Access Barriers, and Policy Implications

🎧 Palliative Care as a Health System Indicator in Georgia⁠In this episode, we shift focus from global migration health systems to a critical but often under-recognised dimension of health system performance: palliative care. Building on the broader discussion of equity, access, and system resilience, we examine how the availability of palliative care reflects deeper structural strengths and weaknesses within healthcare systems.The Georgian Medical Journal Podcast serves as a platform translating scientific evidence into policy-relevant insights for clinicians, researchers, and decision-makers worldwide.This episode is based on the peer-reviewed article by Sharvari Patil and Sulkhan Inaishvili, providing a structured, evidence-informed analysis of palliative care in Georgia, including:The global burden of serious health-related suffering, affecting more than 61 million people annuallyWHO estimates that only ~14% of those in need receive palliative care worldwideThe concentration of opioid access in a small number of high-income countries, leaving over 80% of the global population underservedStructural barriers in Georgia, including limited geographic coverage and urban concentration of servicesGaps in workforce capacity, training, and integration into mainstream healthcare deliveryRegulatory and administrative constraints affecting access to opioid analgesicsPalliative care is increasingly recognised as a fundamental component of universal health coverage (UHC) and people-centred health systems. This episode reframes palliative care not only as a clinical service, but as a health system indicator — a tracer of equity, continuity of care, and access to essential medicines.Drawing on global and national evidence, we explore how unmet need in palliative care reveals systemic gaps in service delivery, governance, and health system design.Georgia provides a compelling case study of a health system in transition. Despite progress in healthcare reform, palliative care remains insufficiently developed, with limited community-based services, regulatory barriers, and uneven access across regions.This episode demonstrates how strengthening palliative care requires:Expansion of community and home-based care modelsBalanced opioid policy implementationImproved workforce training and educationIntegration of palliative care into national health strategiesMore broadly, it highlights how palliative care can function as a lens for evaluating health system responsiveness and equity in low- and middle-income settings.Patil S, Inaishvili S.Palliative Care as a Health System Indicator in Georgia: Unmet Need, Access Barriers, and Policy Implications.Georgian Medical Journal. 2026;1(1):14–34DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19050661Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/33U05xcBx4ZERFpwppky7dApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/fr/podcast/the-georgian-medical-journal-podcast/id1879124703YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@GeorgianMedicalJournalAmazon Music: https://music.amazon.fr/podcasts/4853e78c-2d47-454e-ba85-2e0927829b9f/the-georgian-medical-journal-podcastCastbox: https://castbox.fm/vh/7075396Goodpods: https://go.goodpods.com/HbSmOZPocket Casts: https://pca.st/1krb6adqThe GMJ Podcast is the official knowledge translation platform of the Georgian Medical Journal, bridging science, policy, and global health practice through accessible, high-quality audio content.🔬 Focus of the Episode🌍 Context and Relevance📄 Source Article🎙️ Listen Now📢 About the GMJ Podcast