Improving care at the end of life, which refers to the health and social care provided as an individual nears the end of life, is becoming a growing global public health priority and an important aspect of people‑centred policies. With ageing populations and changing epidemiology of disease, more people will require better care and support in their last phase of life. During the COVID‑19 pandemic, containment measures adopted to prevent the spread of the virus – including bans on visitors to LTC facilities and hospitals, even for dying patients – ran counter to key principles of high-quality, person-centred end-of-life care (EOLC). The difficult experience at the end of life for many patients and their families during the pandemic has underscored the importance of person-centred, accessible and high-quality EOLC services.