The role of the pharmacist in Palliative Care: a narrative review

Abstract

Aging is associated with an increase in chronic and serious diseases, which reinforces the importance of a palliative approach. The World Health Organization recommends that palliative care be initiated early, at all levels of care, aiming to prevent symptoms and complications and provide adequate treatment. In this context, medications are essential for controlling symptoms and promoting the quality of life of patients with serious, chronic or terminal diseases. However, polypharmacy in these cases can favor the occurrence of adverse drug events, which is why prescribing and monitoring results may require multidisciplinary attention. Therefore, this study aims to understand the role of the pharmacist in palliative care. This is a narrative review. Searches were conducted in the PubMed, LILACS and SciELO databases, with original articles published in English, Spanish or Portuguese between 2015 and 2025. A total of 338 articles were initially identified in the bibliographic search. After eliminating duplicates and analyzing eligibility, 16 studies were included in this review. It was found that the main functions of the pharmacist working in palliative care are symptom management, therapy review, health education and care coordination, especially in home and primary care. The data analyzed confirm that the pharmacist has an essential role in palliative care, contributing to the safe use of medications, improving quality of life, preventing complications and reducing costs. As a future perspective, the need for greater recognition, training and public policies that strengthen their role in palliative care stands out.