IAHPC Executive Director Liliana De Lima. Photo used with permission.

A Natural Transition: IAHPC pivots programs to boost national supports

With international and regional palliative care organizations now well established, the IAHPC leadership has decided that the time is right to amplify its support for palliative care at the national level. This new strategy will be reflected in all that the International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care does, including:

  • Offering IAHPC scholarships to selected national conferences and meetings.
  • Disseminating the content of Essential and Expanded Palliative Care Packages that the IAHPC is currently developing in collaboration with other organizations.
  • Identifying national palliative care leaders who want to boost advocacy for hospice and palliative care generally, and for improved access to essential medicines specifically.
  • Integrating best palliative care practices at the country level.

A gift to kick things off

All national associations legally registered as civil society organizations are eligible for a gift from the IAHPC: a free one-year membership. If your association has not been contacted by the start day, January 1, 2025, let us know!

"A ton of national associations are doing good work," says IAHPC Executive Director Liliana De Lima. "While it is beyond our capacity to offer support to all countries, we will select a group of registered national associations with the institutional capacity to enact measures to improve palliative care country-wide, with our help. This includes mentoring, funding, and supporting local initiatives and efforts. Additional programs focused at the national level will also be launched in 2025. 

"We will continue to support regional organizations by disseminating information about their congresses and educational events, as we have done in the past.

"It's a logical transition," adds De Lima. "We have spent more than 20 years supporting palliative care regionally. During this time, many national associations have emerged, are actively working towards evidence-based policies and the integration of palliative care. It's time to shift our focus to the local level, bringing us closer to the bedside level."

This concerted effort aimed nationally is expected to continue for several years.

Read more of this week's issue of Pallinews

A Natural Transition

IAHPC pivots to focus on support for palliative care development at the national level, starting with a gift of a one-year membership for national palliative care associations beginning Jan. 1, 2025.
Relax & Read

2 book reviews: Achieving a Good Death: A Practical Guide to the End of Life and On the Kindness of Strangers and other Essays: Musings on Medicine as a Human Science, both reviewed by Frank Brennan.
In Remembrance of Dr. Robert Twycross

Tributes from IAHPC members.