IAHPC Pallinews

Stoking Fire from Within: An IAHPC member & Scholars on moving palliative care forward

An Origin Story How Pitty Mwagiru found her life's path in palliative care as a provider and trainer.

Reports from fired-up IAHPC Scholars who attended conferences in Argentina, Colombia, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Brimming with practical help, useful information & a book review

IAHPC's Manual on the Use of Essential Palliative Care Medicines for Adults offers detailed guidance on use and dosage.

Advocacy report by IAHPC's Senior Director of Advocacy and Partnerships Katherine Pettus.

Resilient Grieving: How to find your way through devastating loss Review of this "beautiful, heartfelt" book is by Dr. Frank Brennan.

Elevator pitch workshop report/how-to guide & PC in Bhutan

Elevator Pitch Workshop report & a how-to guide to write your own.

India-trained nurses brought palliative care to Bhutan in 2018. It is now part of the country's national health policy.

IAHPC Advocacy Briefs International action to improve availability of opioids as an essential medicine & more.

A report from Chile & an introduction to the WHO guideline on controlled medicines

Palliative Care in Chile Even high-income countries have gaps in care.

Guidance for Policymakers An introduction to the WHO guideline on controlled medicines.

Luc Deliens Notes from the International Seminar on Public Health Palliative Care Research.

Inspiration through love & learning

Love, Loss, & Even More Love A palliative home care service in Kolkata started with nothing but a former music director's resolve that others be spared his wife's end-of-life suffering.

Grants in Action IAHPC Scholars to IAPCON 2025 describe its impact on them professionally and personally.

Advocacy report, tributes to Dr. Anne, & in the Zoom Room

Advocacy Report WHA news & the release of new WHO guideline on controlled medicines.

Tributes to medical missionary Dr. Anne Merriman of Uganda.

In the Zoom Room Tips on giving a presentation—or speaking—in an online meeting.

Worlds Apart: African reflection on a Western EOL choice

Reflection on Dementia A Zambian physician offers his perspective on Winter's End: Dementia and Dying Well.

Listen up! Expert advice on speaking to a small group.

Tips for Speakers & IAHPC WHA side events

We could all use public speaking advice! In part 1 of 3, an expert gives tips on addressing large groups.

Prepping for Geneva IAHPC advocacy at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May.

2 major advocacy wins & an Asia-Pacific Atlas of PC

2 Global Wins Palliative care included in WHO Pandemic Agreement & rights for older persons being drafted by the UN.

Atlas of Palliative Care in Asia-Pacific A persuasive tool for advocates seeking improved access to palliative care & medicines.

Abraham Fuks' The Language of Medicine Reviewed by Romayne Gallagher.

Boosting confidence in care

ELNEC has been educating nurses in palliative care, giving them bedside skills, for 25 years. A profile by Judith Paice.

Culturally appropriate care for Indigenous peoples in Canada & one women's end-of-life story

Advocacy activity

Katherine Pettus reports on actions on controlled medicines taken at the Commission on Narcotics Drugs.

Gratitude for women, & a clever contest for doctors

From Us to You Messages on of International Women's Day.

Who's the Best? Family doctors' skills contest in Mongolia raises palliative care awareness & requires training for those who failed. Nurses will be next!

2 Book Reviews Grief is a Sneaky Bitch: An Uncensored Guide to Navigating Loss & Reading By Moonlight: How books saved a life

On faith & service to others leading the way

Empowering pharmaceutical expertise in palliative care in India was the goal of Ebtesam Ahmed's Fulbright-funded mentorship. It turned out to be just the beginning.

Belize national palliative care association raises $8,620, and community awareness, on the back of a motorcycle.

Helping to Disrupt Fear Barbados on World Cancer Day.

Bridging gaps in access & care

This monthly advocacy report by Katherine Pettus, IAHPC Senior Director of Advocacy and Partnerships.

Spotlight on North Macedonia How a team of experts has been working to extend & expand palliative care services.

The Handbook of LGBTQIA-Inclusive Hospice and Palliative Care Reviewed by Anna Keedwell.

What talking can accomplish & a review of Doctor, Will You Pray For Me?

Talk about Death & Dying These conversations, though uncomfortable or even taboo, can help patients appreci ate the days that remain & die with dignity.

Doctor, Will You Pray for Me? The essential relationship between spirituality & medicine is beautifully addressed in this book, reviewed by Nigel Hartley.

Patients' power of procrastination & our monthly advocacy roundup (open access seminars, high-level submissions & more)

The Power of Procrastination Maintaining hope could be why patients delay their decision to end futile treatments.

Advocacy Roundup IAHPC's open access webinars, high-level submissions & more.

Important IAHPC newsflash, 2 book reviews & tributes to Dr. Twycross

IAHPC transitions to focus more on supporting the development of palliative care nationally.

Book Reviews On achieving a good death, and essays by a palliative care leader.

Remembrances of Dr. Robert Twycross.

Global advances in essential medicines, & improved supply in Sierra Leone

Monthly advocacy report by Katherine Pettus

Improved access to morphine in Sierra Leone

Our new website: Why it was necessary

$16,000 donation from Australian surgeon

Exciting education tactics for health care professionals in Chile & eastern Europe, a book review & more

Palliative Care for Professionals Report on effective distance education for health care professionals in Chile.

Book Review Intentionally Interprofessional Palliative Care is both a comprehensive textbook and practical guide.

A Regional Powerhouse PACED's projects to extend PC knowledge among health care professionals.

Global advocacy roundup by Katherine Pettus + baby steps in Burkina Faso

October's Rich Harvest Katherine Pettus' monthly advocacy roundup.

Showing LEADership IAHPC grant helped train 33 in basic palliative care in Burkina Faso.

In Practice Two useful phrases from an IAHPC member.

How stories move us toward palliative care, + 6 great ideas

Stories Underpin PC IAHPC members' contributions to the McGill congress, plus 6 great ideas.

An Urgent Issue Q&A on Palliative Medicine's recent thematic issue on primary palliative care.

"World's Largest ECHO Session" began with a caregiver's story to "anchor our discussions in real-world experiences."

IAHPC advocacy action on opioids & health care at international meetings

Impediments to Rational Use of Essential Medicines Tackled in a Wide-Ranging UNODC Consultation

PAHO Meeting was an opportunity to stress regional palliative care caregiver burden and equity.

A video on spiritual care, an article on sepsis & a nurse's view from Lebanon

Divinity Within & In The Moment A report on IAHPC/PallCHASE World Peace Day webinar.

Threats to Global Health Sepsis, antimicrobial resistance & their impact on the most vulnerable palliative care advocates can be part of the solution.

Report from a Palliative Care Nurse in Lebanon

Recent webinars (for all) & courses (for members)

The New Normal: Taking into account the voices of carers and those they care for: how the IAHPC/INPCS palliative care/neurological conditions course broke new ground.

IAHPC Membership Surges: Members help palliative care provision more than they may know!

Monthly advocacy report, film trilogy review, a free online course to develop palliative care & more

Years of Advocacy Pay Off with 2 mentions of PC in United Nations decisions. A report by Katherine Pettus.

Movie Review: When You Die trilogy of films encourage conversations around death and dying.

Plus Government decision nourishes hope for action to establish palliative care in Cameroon's hospitals.

Charts (& much more) that tell a tale: Pettus on opioids, member survey findings

Recommitting to Advocating for Safe Availability of Medical Morphine A report by Katherine Pettus.

'We like being members of IAHPC, but don't know the many benefits we are entitled to': Our membership survey.

Plus Sharing Clinical Pharmacy Expertise in India

Care & Change Are Rooted in Individuals - A trio of experiences

A Framework & Guide to measure the burden of serious health-related suffering to aid researchers, policymakers, & practitioners: a follow-up to the Lancet Commission on PC.

Grants in Action EAPC Scholars share tips on research & more.

Care & Change Are Rooted in Individuals - A trio of experiences

Up Close & Personal Circumstances align caregiving for my sister with glioblastoma. A report by Katherine Pettus.

Volunteers at the Helm India's largest home care service successfully fosters centers run by volunteers.

On Being an IAHPC Delegate IAHPC member's enriching experience helping to propel PC to the fore.

Success stories: nurses on social media, & the pan-African institution, APCA

If You Love to Talk about Palliative Care, becoming known on social media could change hearts & minds. A chat with 2 TikTok nurses.

The Africa Palliative Care Association shares successful steps to move PC forward.

IAHPC advocacy at work in global meetings & exploring self-perceived burden

IAHPC Statements at the World Health Assembly Reports by Katherine Pettus, Megan Doherty, & Richard Bauer.

Interfaith Symposium PC is "a genuine form of compassion," says Pope Francis.

Self-Perceived Burden What does it mean, for patients with advanced illness? Romayne Gallagher synthesizes articles.

Sharing experiences: Growing a PC service; ALCP people & posters

1999 Until Now Kazakhstan's 25-year journey from no hospice care to today's very different landscape, including key factors to success.

IAHPC Scholars & Their Posters The ALCP congress through the eyes of diverse IAHPC Scholars.

Palliative Sedation is NOT Assisted Suicide, and Major Palliative Care Initiative in India

Palliative Sedation is NOT Assisted Suicide A report by Katherine Pettus.

Great Ambitions: Palliative care enrichment in India at all levels How a $1,000 grant to India’s Cancer Aid Society blossomed.

Tips for Nurses, Institutions that inspire & more

Advice for Fellow Nurses from Stella Rithara, a PC nursing pioneer in Kenya.

Institutions That Inspire. IAHPC 2024 Recognition Award recipients in Malawi, India, and Spain.

Notable Research Editorial on the benefits of palliative care by Tania Pastrana.

IAHPC at the ALCP Congress in Cartagena, Colombia

Juntos Somos Más Fuertes (Together We Are Stronger) Info on IAHPC at the Latin American congress: poster winners, scholarship recipients, partners in global access project.

March Advocacy Advances in Latin America, India & Internationally

Encouraging advances Palliative care advocacy roundup for March on: the ALCP congress, advances at high-level meetings—a resolution on controlled medicines, pledges to improve availability—a model West African drug law, & more. A report by Katherine Pettus.

“Personhood,” Not “Patienthood”:
Tips on dignity-conserving practice in palliative care

6 tips on dignity-conserving practice in palliative care, from community palliative care physician and GP Kim Adzich.

Promoting Resilience & Preventing Burnout: One size does not fit all

Originally published in the February 2020 issue of the IAHPC Newsletter.

What Is Ours to Carry?

Book review by Frank Brennan on Wendy Lau’s “Inner Practice of Medicine”: why physicians respond as they do.

Plus 3 Well-Reviewed Books—not textbooks—from the past few years, on death with dignity, spirituality & more.

Drug Policy & Human Rights Take Center Stage This Spring

Advocacy update by Katherine Pettus Drug policy & human rights take center stage.

Plus Fast, Free, Useful, Accurate On-the-go resources & reference materials for palliative care workers.

Visit the IAHPC Booth at the ALCP and AAHPM Congresses

Take advantage of your chance to bring your concerns, questions & comments directly to the IAHPC.

Plus An Angel by Her Side: Love & chocolate in Mexico One nurse’s surprising story about a patient on his last day.

Expanding the Realm of the Possible

Just try it! How IAHPC-inspired confidence netted a Zambia palliative care group $25,000

Reflections from My Working Life in a Malawi Clinic

Inside a Malawi clinic & 2 key questions Dr. Maya Jane Bates on her 20 years at a clinic in Malawi, plus a few tips for fellow caregivers.

An Essential Textbook on Pediatric Palliative Care

Book Review The Oxford Textbook of Palliative Care for Children, 3rd Edition

Plus Advocacy action. Join IAHPC online for a dialogue on availability of essential controlled medicines with the Special Rapporteur for Health and other experts.

Remembering Dr. William (Bill) Farr, 1941-2024.

Tributes to a beloved founder of the IAHPC.

Plus Training Opportunity for Palliative Care Professionals in Africa

Busy Season for Advocacy Action

Katherine Pettus reports on presentations, statements & side events that are just the beginning of the busiest months of the year for advocates working to improve hospice & palliative care.

Winners of the IAHPC Photo Contest 2023

See hospice care in India, Uganda, Mongolia & the Czech Republic as experienced by IAHPC members, and learn the messages that these amateur photographers hoped to convey.

The Metrics of Suffering

How to measure suffering? What question helps caregivers learn what patients are feeling? This, plus pros and cons of traditional metrics are explored by IAHPC Chair Lukas Radbruch.