Dear friends of IAHPC,
Happy New Year everyone! We hope that 2021 will bring many opportunities to expand and increase palliative care to those in need, in particular the vulnerable who suffer the most.
We are happy to announce publication of the compilation of the Briefing Notes of the Covid-19 and Palliative Care Series. This compilation collects the twenty-seven original and lightly edited Briefing Notes prepared for the Series developed between April and September 2020 in response to the emergency of the pandemic and its unprecedented effects on patients and palliative care providers around the world. They are addressed to civil society organizations, UN member states, Secretariat staff at the UN Organizations, policymakers, administrators, service recipients, and health care providers. Each Briefing Note provides a snapshot of globally relevant information and guidance on an issue relating to palliative care in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The series was developed jointly by a working group composed of the Executive Directors and Officers of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (Liliana De Lima and Katherine Pettus); the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (Julia Downing); Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies (Joan Marston]; and the Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (Stephen Connor and Claire Morris). You can read and download the compilation here
Last year we announced the Global Palliative Care Database (GPCD) from palliative care (PC) services from around the world. As a reminder, the objectives of this project are to:
The database shows the similarities and differences between the reasons and timing for referral to PC services, as well as the prescribed therapeutic interventions and referrals to other disciplines. The system registers items adapted from “An essential package of palliative care and pain relief health services” in The Lancet Commission on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief Report (2018). There is no charge for IAHPC Members to participate in the project. We invite you to enroll!
As this new year begins, we take time to reflect upon the many blessings we enjoy: our members, colleagues, directors, donors, and friends, as well as the countless patients and families around the globe who it is our privilege to serve. It is in this spirit that we say thank you for your support, which enables us to progress advancing our mission. Our promise to all of you is that we will continue working to advance the IAHPC mission and help you in your own efforts to relieve suffering.
We appreciate the confidence that all of our donors, members and readers have placed in us and in our work. We will strive to be better each day and look forward to working with you in 2021.
Until next month,
Lukas Radbruch, MD
Chair, Board of Directors
Liliana De Lima, MHA
Executive Director
This newsletter, including (but not limited to) all written material, images, photos are protected under international copyright laws and are property of the IAHPC. You may share the IAHPC newsletter preserving the original design, the IAHPC logo, and the link to the IAHPC website, but you are not allowed to reproduce, modify, or republish any material without prior written permission from the IAHPC.