Brimming with practical help, useful information & a book review

IAHPC news briefs

Moving Forward, Strategically

IAHPC has just finalized the organization's Strategic Plan for 2025-2030, "a practical and forward-looking guide that will shape our collective work over the next five years," says Executive Director Liliana De Lima. "The new plan reflects insights from a year-long, collaborative process involving our board, members, and partners from across the globe.

"More than a roadmap, the Strategic Plan is a call to action. It aims to strengthen our institutional capacity, foster innovation, and deepen partnerships worldwide. As we implement this plan, we remain committed to learning, adapting, and responding to the needs of the global palliative care community. We look forward to working together with our members and partners to advance appropriate, compassionate, and quality palliative care for all in need."

Warning! Scammers Target IAHPC Members  Scammers are using IAHPC Chair of the Board Lukas Radbruch's name to send emails to IAHPC members asking them to send money. Dr. Radbruch has not, and will never, ask anyone for money in an email. Please delete any emails of this nature at once, without clicking on any links.

Never send money in response to a person's unsolicited request sent via the Internet. Scams are rampant, and scammers are becoming more devious and persuasive.

Dementia Seminar: Free for members  An IAHPC webinar, "Management Strategies for Dementia Patients," takes place next Thursday, September 18. Topics will include multidisciplinary approaches in low-resources settings, non-pharmalogical strategies to manage behaviors, and a caregiver's perspective. Read more in Katherine Pettus's Advocacy Report. Register for the webinar. Join IAHPC so that you can register (20% off memberships lasts until Sept. 15: see the table below). 

Just 4 Days Left to Save 20%!  IAHPC's reduced membership fees end on September 15. The fees are scaled to your country's World Bank income category. Join today!

Individual membership rates

Sale price shown in blue

Country Income Category	Regular fee 1 year	Regular fee 2 years	Regular fee Lifetime
High	$132.00 ($165.00)	$200.00 ($250.00)	$680.00 ($850.00)
Upper Middle	$76.00 ($95.00)	$112.00 ($140.00)
Lower Middle	$40.00 ($50.00)	$60.00 ($75.00)
Low	$16.00 ($20.00)	$24.00 ($30.00)

Institutional membership rates

Sale price shown in blue

Country Income Category	Regular fee 1 year	Regular fee 2 years	Lifetime
High	$320.00 ($400.00)	$480.00 ($600.00)	$1,360.00 ($1,700.00)
All others	$240.00 ($300.00)	$360.00 ($450.00)

Mary Callaway Named Next IAHPC Chair  International palliative care consultant and current IAHPC Board Member Mary Callaway has been elected as IAHPC's next chairperson of the board. Her term, taking over from current Chair Lukas Radbruch, begins January 1, 2026.

Mary has been an IAHPC board member since 2015, bringing expertise that spans health policy, education and training, advocacy, and program development and evaluation. She "has been a very active board member and supporting us in many ways, including financially. I am very grateful with the board for having elected her and look forward to working with Mary," says Executive Director Liliana De Lima.

New Podcast a Bridge between Practice & Research Family medicine specialist and IAHPC Board Member Jane Bates has begun a passion project that she has been thinking about for several years: a podcast called Palliative Care Matters with "the aim to bridge the gap between palliative care practice and research evidence internationally." 

The podcast launched July 21, 2025, with an episode on "End-of-life decision-making: conversations in the ICU." She talks with Sunitha Daniel, a palliative care consultant in the United Kingdom, about helping relatives during end-of-life care planning, including discussion of a case from an ICU in India.

The podcast is available on Spotify and Apple.

Plus

WHO Course on Pharma Pricing Policies  Enrolment is open for Pharmaceutical Pricing Policies, a World Health Organization Academy online, introductory course comprising six modules. The course is available in English: French, Spanish, and Russian versions are expected by December 2025. All of the academy courses are free.

The self-paced course was designed to build "foundational knowledge of the economic principles that underpin medicine pricing. It also introduces various government pharmaceutical pricing policies aimed at facilitating affordable access to medicines and ensuring financial sustainability," according to the WHO.

It is intended for "health policy analysts and health system managers who support policymakers in managing access to pharmaceutical products."

World Day Resources Ready for You  World Hospice & Palliative Care Day is on October 11 this year, and you are invited to visit the website of the World Hospice Palliative Care Association (WHPCA) for a toolkit with logos, help with social media messaging including press releases, filming techniques, fundraising tips, and an advocacy letter template. If you are not familiar with this important global event to inform the public about hospice and palliative care, visit the WHPCA website.

Australia's Pediatric Clinical Guidelines  Australia, in partnership with New Zealand, have filled a gap by releasing the country's first national clinical guidelines for pediatric palliative care. The guidelines, free to download, focus on the three areas with the greatest difficulties in the care of children with life-limiting illness: managing agitation, addressing breathlessness, and sharing significant news with families.

These practical guidelines, which are based on New Zealand's existing guidelines, are structured to work across all healthcare settings. The authors note that "central to the guidelines’ development was the meaningful involvement of families with lived experience... This co-design approach means the guidelines address not just clinical symptoms, but the broader experience of care, including care that supports the family."