The 8th Singapore Palliative Care Conference (SPCC) 2023, which took place from 1st to 4th July 2023, revolved around the theme of “Building Collaborative Communities.” The conference aimed to foster inclusivity, encourage multidisciplinary teamwork, and cultivate an open culture of learning. Its primary objective was to promote the continuum of palliative care across different disciplines within both inpatient and community settings.
As part of the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care (Lien Collab) Programme, a capacity-building initiative jointly developed by the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) and the Lien Foundation, a select group of 15 delegates from various regions in the Asia Pacific were sponsored to attend SPCC 2023. These delegates hailed from nine different regions, namely Australia, Bhutan, China, India, Philippines, Sarawak, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Timor Leste. All of them had been involved in previous or ongoing Lien Collab projects.
The delegates actively participated in the main conference held at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, spanning two days. On the first day, the opening ceremony featured a keynote address by Mr. Ong Ye Kung, the Minister for Health of Singapore.
Following this, the delegates engaged in a series of concurrent and plenary sessions throughout the day. Concluding the first day’s events, the delegates were treated to a course dinner accompanied by captivating performances at the conference dinner.
The second day of the conference offered a comprehensive lineup of sessions covering diverse topics such as “Collaboration Across Borders: The Final Journey Home,” “Collaborative Management of Dyspnea,” and “Innovation in Palliative Care,” among others. The delegates eagerly attended these sessions, which provided them with valuable insights and knowledge sharing opportunities.
On the third day, the Lien Collab programme organised a networking and sharing session exclusively for the sponsored delegates. Each delegate was given the opportunity to discuss their current involvement in palliative care and highlight how the Lien Collab programme has enhanced their work. Since its inception in 2013, the Lien Collab programme has made significant contributions to various regions in the Asia Pacific. During the sharing session, delegates gained deeper insights into the milestones and progress achieved by different Lien Collab projects across the various regions. The session proved to be highly fruitful, enabling delegates to forge new connections and establish meaningful friendships.
The delegates’ visit to the 8th Singapore Palliative Care Conference 2023 was a remarkable experience, offering a platform for professionals in the field to come together, exchange knowledge, and build collaborative networks. The conference, with its focus on inclusivity and multidisciplinary teamwork, contributed to the ongoing advancement of palliative care across diverse settings and regions. The participation of delegates from different parts of the Asia Pacific, sponsored through the Lien Collab programme, exemplifies the commitment to fostering collaboration and driving progress in the field of palliative care.
Written by Ms Trudy Giam (APHN Executive )