The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) was recently invited by the Nepalese Association of Palliative Care (NAPCARE) to explore potential collaborations in palliative care training in Nepal. During this visit, we had the opportunity to witness significant advancements in the country’s healthcare sector, particularly in the field of palliative care. A key outcome of the visit was our meeting with Dr Roshan Pokhrel, the Secretary of Health, where an agreement was reached for APHN to collaborate with local experts in launching the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care program. This initiative will focus on training master trainers and expanding palliative care services throughout Nepal, with the aim of improving the quality of life for patients with serious illnesses.
The APHN would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the people of Nepal for their warm hospitality, particularly the Department of Health and the various healthcare institutions we visited. These institutions are playing a critical role in the advancement of palliative care services in the country, and we are excited to support their efforts through our collaboration.
We would like to express our deepest thanks to the Ministry of Health and Population, Ramshahpath, Kathmandu, for their support during our visit. We also extend our appreciation to the devoted faculty members who accompanied us: A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal (Chair, APHN), Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (Lien Collaborative Country Lead), and Sr Hanife Macgamwell (Lien Collaborative Faculty). Special thanks are also due to our local organising faculty: Dr Krishna Sharma (NAPCARE Honorary Secretary), Dr Amrita Shrestha (Head of Palliative Care Services, Green Pastures Hospital), and Dr Bikash Anand (Unit Head of Pain and Palliative Care Services, Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital).
This visit marks the beginning of a promising collaboration aimed at strengthening palliative care services in Nepal, and we are eager to see the positive impact this will have on healthcare in the region.
Nepalese Association of Palliative Care (NAPCARE): This organization is at the forefront of palliative care advocacy and training in Nepal. Our discussions with NAPCARE focused on the integration of palliative care into the national healthcare system and the potential for further collaboration.
Green Pastures Hospital, International Nepal Foundation (Pokhara): Known for its comprehensive care, Green Pastures Hospital is making strides in integrating palliative care into its services. We were impressed by their commitment to patient-centered care and their innovative approaches to service delivery.
B P Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital (Bharatpur, Chitwan): As one of the leading cancer treatment centers in Nepal, this hospital has made significant progress in providing palliative care services. Our visit underscored the importance of palliative care in oncology and the need for specialized training for healthcare professionals.
Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (Kathmandu): This facility is dedicated to the treatment of cancer patients and is actively incorporating palliative care into its treatment protocols. The dedication of the staff to improving patient outcomes through palliative care was particularly noteworthy.
Nepal Cancer Hospital & Research Centre Ltd (Kathmandu): A leading institution in cancer research and treatment, this center is playing a pivotal role in advancing palliative care practices in Nepal. We look forward to further collaboration with this institution as part of our broader efforts in the country.
Written by Mr Giam Cheong Leong (APHN Executive Director)
This project is a Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care initiative to build capacity in developing countries in Asia. The Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care was co-developed by the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) and the Lien Foundation.