The federal government should create a separate health funding category for palliative care, a Senate inquiry has recommended.
The Senate Community Affairs committee tabled its palliative care report on Wednesday, after a yearlong inquiry.
Palliative care services, run by hospitals, community organisations, charities and aged care hostels, help people with life threatening illnesses cope with treatment of pain and physical, psychological and spiritual issues.
The Department of Health and Ageing estimates that between 36,000 to 72,000 people dying each year use palliative care services.
The report made 38 recommendations including creating a new funding category for palliative care.
The new funding category should also result in the establishment of a palliative care advisory committee to advise the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority about the cost palliative care services.
The report recommended improving access to information for palliative care patients, carers and families beginning with the establishment of a Care Search website.
A national scholarship fund for postgraduate studies palliative care nursing should also be set-up, the committee recommended.
