Policy brief on integrating rehabilitation into palliative care services.

World Health Organization (‎WHO)‎ policy on universal health coverage states that both rehabilitation and palliative care are essential components of quality health services and should be integrated within health systems using a multiprofessional workforce. Rehabilitation in palliative care can deliver many benefits for people and health systems but access to interventions is limited by a range of barriers including limited resource, siloed organization of services and attitudes of professionals and funders. While integrated rehabilitation has been achieved in high income countries in health services for people with chronic long-term conditions or trauma, it remains underresourced and highly variable within palliative care services. This policy brief aims to understand how integrating rehabilitation in palliative care services may improve the quality, accessibility, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health services for people approaching end of life. It provides practical and actionable information and recommendations to support health ministers and leaders in health systems planning to integrate rehabilitation in palliative care services.