UK best place in the world to die: Index

London, July 15(ANI): The UK has been ranked at the top of the "Quality of Death" index for its provision of end-of-life care.

The index, drawn up by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), ranks 40 countries on attitudes to death and the treatment of the dying.

The UK takes the top place based on its network of hospices, NHS provision of palliative care and measures such as access to pain killing drugs.

The top ranking comes despite it having a "far-from-perfect health system", the report said.

Help the Hospices, the UK's leading charity supporting hospice care, welcomed the report, but said too many people in Britain faced the end of life without specialist care and support.

"This is the first time a ranking of end-of-life care globally has been attempted. Hospice care was pioneered in the UK and it is heartening to see the UK coming top of the index," The Independent quoted David Praill, Help the Hospices chief executive, as saying.

"Our ageing population means more people will be dying and they will be dying with more complex needs... It is vital we have a fair and sustainable system of funding that meets the needs of people at the most vulnerable time of their lives," he added. (ANI)