The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) recently had the honour of participating in the 114th Membership Meeting and Annual Conference of the Taiwan Academy of Hospice Palliative Medicine (TAHPM) — a significant milestone for one of APHN’s founding sectors and long-standing partners in the region.
Taiwan holds a special place in APHN’s history. As a founding sector, Taiwan has consistently demonstrated leadership, innovation, and unwavering commitment to advancing hospice and palliative care across Asia Pacific. The conference was not only a celebration of TAHPM’s 114th annual meeting, but also a reaffirmation of Taiwan’s continued role as a pillar of strength within the APHN network.
APHN was deeply appreciative of the invitation to participate in the Plenary Session, represented by A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal and Prof Yoshiyuki Kizawa, together with the local experts, moderated by Prof Wang Ying Wei. Their presence symbolised the strength of regional collaboration and underscored APHN’s commitment to supporting academic, clinical, and leadership development across member sectors.
We extend our warmest congratulations to Prof Cheng Shao-Yi, President of TAHPM and APHN Council Member, for her outstanding leadership and vision. Under her stewardship, Taiwan continues to set high standards in education, research, and policy advocacy.
Key Outcomes from the Conference:
- Reaffirmation of Taiwan’s Founding Role
The conference reinforced Taiwan’s strategic importance within APHN and renewed mutual commitment to strengthening regional leadership. - Expanded Academic Collaboration
Opportunities were identified for joint research platforms, faculty exchanges, and co-developed training modules — particularly beneficial for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) within the APHN network. - Leadership Development Pathways
Discussions explored mentorship opportunities, including observerships and fellowship collaborations to cultivate the next generation of palliative care leaders. - Alignment for the Next Decade
Both APHN and Taiwan partners expressed a shared aspiration to deepen engagement beyond conferences — into sustained, structured, and strategic collaboration.
Institutional Engagement Visits
Beyond the conference, APHN undertook a series of meaningful engagement visits with Taiwan’s leading institutions — each demonstrating excellence and innovation in hospice and palliative care.
1. National Taiwan University Hospital
Our visit to NTUH was both inspiring and affirming. As a premier academic medical centre, NTUH exemplifies excellence in:
- Dedicated palliative care wards
- Integrated, multidisciplinary team models
- Robust education and research infrastructure
- Holistic, patient-centred care philosophy
The professionalism, compassion, and system-level integration witnessed during the visit provide a strong model for capacity-building across Asia Pacific. We look forward to further academic exchange and training partnerships with NTUH.
2. Mackay Memorial Hospital – Tamsui Branch
Founded on Christian mission roots dating back to 1872, Mackay Memorial Hospital reflects a deep tradition of service and compassion. The dedicated palliative care education and inpatient service zone demonstrates a strong commitment to vulnerable communities.
Discussions centred on:
- Hospital twinning programmes between Taiwan centres and LMIC hospitals
- Observership placements for APHN members
- Faculty sharing and mentorship exchanges
These initiatives hold tremendous potential to accelerate service development without “reinventing the wheel,” allowing LMIC partners to adopt proven, evidence-based models of care.
3. Hospice Foundation of Taiwan
For over 20 years, Hospice Foundation of Taiwan (HFT) has been a long-standing organisational member and valued partner of APHN . The visit reaffirmed the strength of this enduring partnership. HFT’s achievements in advocacy, public engagement, and community education offer important lessons for regional adaptation. HFT plays a critical role in partnering APHN and keeping the organization members engaged. As it is, we are already sensing the strong enthusiasm to collaborate further with HFT, Tzu Chi Foundation Hospital, and Kaohsiung partners in scaling compassionate community initiatives across Asia Pacific.
4. Tzu Chi Foundation Hospital
5. Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital – Chongde Ward
During our visit to the Chongde Ward, we were introduced to a beautiful integration of multidisciplinary collaboration and artistic design in end-of-life care. The ward’s art installations and thoughtful environmental design reflect a deep commitment to dignity, beauty, and compassion in the final journey of life. The visit symbolised how palliative care in Taiwan goes beyond clinical excellence — embracing humanity, aesthetics, and holistic well-being.
Looking Forward: The Next Decade
This engagement visit was not merely ceremonial. It was strategic.
Taiwan remains one of APHN’s most critical organisational members and a founding sector whose leadership has shaped the regional palliative care landscape for decades. As we look toward the next 20 years, we envision:
- Structured faculty exchange and observership pipelines
- Research collaboration platforms linking Taiwan with LMIC institutions
- Expansion of hospital twinning initiatives
- Leadership development pathways for emerging regional champions
- Joint advocacy efforts to strengthen policy integration across Asia Pacific
Together, APHN and Taiwan have the experience, expertise, and shared values to continue transforming serious illness care across borders.
With gratitude for the past 20 years — and great hope for the next 20 — we reaffirm our commitment:
Together, we will continue to build capacity, strengthen leadership, and bring compassionate, quality palliative care to individuals, families, and communities across Asia Pacific.
Written by Mr Giam Cheong Leong (APHN Executive Director )