Abstract:
Purpose The prognosis for the majority of patients with cancer in Kenya is poor, with most patients
presenting with advanced disease. In addition, many patients are unable to afford the optimal therapies
required. Therefore, palliative care is an essential part of comprehensive cancer care. This study
reviews the implementation of a palliative care service based at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital
in Eldoret, Kenya, and describes the current scope and challenges of providing palliative care services
in an East African tertiary public referral hospital.
Methods This is a review of the palliative care clinical services at the only tertiary public referral hospital
in western Kenya from January 2012 through September 2014. Palliative care team members documented
each patient’s encounter on standardized palliative care assessment forms; data were then entered into the
Academic Model Providing Access to Health Care (AMPATH)-Oncology database. Interviews were also
conducted to identify current challenges and opportunities for program improvement.
Results This study documents the implementation of a palliative care service line in Eldoret, Kenya.
Barriers to providing optimal palliative cancer care include distance to pharmacies that stock opioids,
limited selection of opioid preparations, education of health care workers in palliative care, access to
palliative chemoradiation, and limited availability of outpatient and inpatient hospice services.
Conclusion Palliative care services in Eldoret, Kenya, have become a key component of its
comprehensive cancer treatment program.
