A new film by a group of award-winning Australian filmmakers aims to raise awareness of the pain suffered by millions of people each year who die without access to palliative care. LIFE Before Death, which is being released to coincide with World Cancer Day, includes footage from 11 countries around the world and highlights the lack of effective pain treatment and the unnecessary suffering that this causes.

The film is accompanied by 35 poignant and thought-provoking short films which can be viewed here.

The importance of improving access to effective palliative care around the world becomes even more apparent when considering the impact of population ageing upon the incidence of chronic, painful diseases. Changes in mortality and birth rates during the last century or so mean that the demographic phenomenon of population ageing is now an issue facing nearly every country in the world – regardless of levels of development and income.  The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) reports that 3.3 million people suffering from cancer or HIV will die in severe pain this year and that 99.9% of those deaths will be in low to middle income countries.

LIFE Before Death is narrated by British actor David Suchet and has already received four international film awards. It is available here.