Today marks the launch of the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA), a new global action network designed to focus exclusively on hospice and palliative care development worldwide.
More than 100 million people and their families worldwide need palliative care and support each year, however, it is estimated that only seven per cent actually receive it. The need for palliative care is often greatest in low and middle income countries where more than 70% of all cancer deaths occur and where the HIV burden is the highest.
The WPCA is an alliance of national and regional hospice and palliative care organisations, bringing together people around the world with a shared vision of universal access to quality palliative care. WPCA will provide a global voice to achieve this goal and undertake various activities including advocacy, education and training, policy development and research.
“Hospice and palliative care is still unavailable to many of those in need, especially in the developing world, with millions of people dying in pain and distress every year,” said Dr Cynthia Goh, co-chair of the WPCA, from the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network. “Only 15% of the world’s countries have hospice and palliative care that is integrated with general healthcare so the formation of the WPCA is a tremendously positive step forward in helping to meet an overwhelming need.”
National hospice and palliative care organisations have been informally meeting every two years since 2003 to address this need – this group has now formally become the WPCA. The formalization of this network is an important step forward in making sure all those who need quality palliative care can access it.
To date this group has developed and supported a number of projects and initiatives through their network, including the awareness raising World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, which has taken place each year since 2005, and the creation of the International Children’s Palliative Care Network, which is led by the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa (HPCA).
David Praill, co-chair of the WPCA, from the UK’s Help the Hospices, led the inauguration of the WPCA at the 4th Worldwide Summit of National Associations of Hospice and Palliative Care in Vienna today. David commented:
“The formation of the WPCA signifies the coming together of global palliative
care leaders. Members of the WPCA will work together to support the development of hospice and palliative care services throughout the world so that all who need such care can access it. The WPCA also offers an opportunity to celebrate our diversity and share and learn from that richness to help provide palliative care for millions of people worldwide.”
For more information about WPCA and for details on becoming a member.
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About the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA)
WPCA activities are carried out by a number of workgroups chaired in different national associations and with members from around the world, as follows:
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Advocacy – Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
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World Hospice Palliative Care Day sub group, France
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Education and Training – Hospice Palliative Care Association, South Africa
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International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) – Hospice Palliative Care Association, South Africa
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Policy – African Palliative Care Association, Uganda
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Quality and Standards – National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, USA
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Research - Palliative Care Australia
The WPCA is a registered UK charity. The Board of Trustees is an international board with worldwide representation.
For more information on the International Children’s Palliative Care Network.
For more information about World Hospice and Palliative and Care Day, 10 October 2009.
About the Worldwide Summit of National Associations of Hospice and Palliative Care
The Worldwide Summit of National Associations of Hospice and Palliative Care is organised by the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA). The WPCA aims to promote universal access to affordable quality palliative care through the support of national and regional associations. The meeting will focus on building the core competencies of members of the WPCA in education, fundraising, advocacy, organisational development and leadership. The summit is intended for all leaders from national and regional organisations whose role includes national planning in hospice and palliative care, or responding to the needs of hospice and palliative care providers.
This year’s WPCA summit is taking place in Vienna, Austria, 5-6 May 2009. Previous summits have been held in The Hague, The Netherlands in 2003, Seoul, South Korea in 2005 and Nairobi, Kenya in 2007.
Media enquiries
Bansree Takodra:
+44 (0) 20 7520 8251 / b.takodra@helpthehospices.org.uk
