“The reality is that no price can or should be put on the value of this service”, says Hanneke Lubbe, APCC Chairperson of the Free State, “since death does not distinguish between resourced and non-resourced families. APCC members provide care to all, despite limited public funding. Many members rely on their own fundraising campaigns, community support, and the sponsoring of services to non-paying patients by those that can pay or have medical aid benefits for palliative care. This is obviously not the ideal situation as the provision of palliative care should be a recognised component of the healthcare system. A necessity given that a dignified death should be afforded to all.”

Helderberg Hospice Palliative Care social worker Heidi Hendriks says specialists in this field understand that each patient is unique. And, as social workers, they are duty-bound to “celebrate this uniqueness”.

“[We] encourage patients and families to live and make decisions as the experts of their own lives. This is where autonomy and participation in decision-making are key. This sometimes means that social workers are there to advocate for patients when they are perhaps no longer able to do so for themselves, for whatever reason,” she says.

To ensure that patients receive the care they deserve, the APCC urges families to make sure the hospice or palliative care centre they engage with is appropriately accredited and complies with the relevant regulated norms and standards for palliative care in South Africa. APCC members can be asked for a Letter of Good Standing.

Motlalentoa says it is imperative for the government, healthcare systems, medical aids, and communities to work collectively to ensure that the service is integrated, accessible, and adequately resourced for all. He adds that access to palliative care should be prioritised in South Africa.

“When people have access to quality palliative care, they are not only given self-respect, but can live longer with pain managed, symptoms controlled, and families strengthened through the journey of care. Palliative care should be funded, understood, and prioritised as a healthcare service in South Africa. Whilst we understand that end-of-life choices such as medically assisted dying are important conversations, we believe that access to palliative care should be prioritised.”