Palliative care, with the overall aim of relieving suffering and promoting quality of life for those who are terminally ill, was introduced at Mulanje Mission Hospital in 2003. Up until today, free palliative care is available to patients from the catchment area.

The majority of palliative care patients are HIV positive. More than half of the patients (57.2%) have a condition called Kaposi Sarcoma (KS), an HIV related cancer. Free chemotherapy is available. Aaprt from KS, common conditions are cervical cancer and stroke.

A daily outpatient clinic is held at MMH, and many patients are cared for in their homes and communities by families, supported by hospital staff. Staff provide drugs, food, incontinence material, psychological and social support and homevisits as needed.

Currently the programme supports about 200 patients. 50% need pain relief in the form of morphine and 25% need nutritional support because of malnutrition.