Quality Palliative Care addresses the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering of those facing life-threatening and life-limiting illness. According to WHO, “providing compassionate, dignified and people-centred palliative care is an ethical responsibility of health systems.” Unfortunately, of the estimated 40 million people worldwide requiring palliative care each year, only ~14% currently receive it due to critical gaps in policy and programs, inadequate resources and training, and restrictive regulation or lack of access to morphine and other pain medications.
The palliative care community is often seen as an “exemplar” of compassion in global health. What can we learn about compassion through the lens of palliative care? What challenges do those working in palliative care encounter (e.g., ethical dilemmas, burnout, diminished morale) that make sustaining compassion both difficult and essential? How might compassion be activated in support of greater access to quality palliative care, globally?
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Speakers and Panelists:
Marie-Charlotte Bouësseau, MD – World Health Organization (WHO) Lead, Integrated Health Services
Emmanuel Luyirika, MD – Executive Director, African Palliative Care Association
Philip Larkin, PhD – University of Lausanne Chair, Palliative Care Nursing; European Assoc. for Palliative Care
M.R. Rajagopal, MD – Founder & Chairman, Pallium India
