The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) and the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (KKU), Thailand, have renewed their commitment to developing palliative care in Lao PDR through the signing of a new three-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The signing ceremony was held on 13 August 2026 at the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, marking the beginning of Phase 2 of the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care in Lao PDR.
The MOU was signed on behalf of APHN by A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal, Chairperson, and Mr Giam Cheong Leong, Executive Director, and on behalf of KKU by Assoc. Prof. Pattarapong Makarawate, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, and Assoc. Prof. Srivieng Pairojkul, Head of the Karunruk Palliative Care Center.
Building on the Achievements of Phase 1
The collaboration builds upon the strong foundation established during Phase 1. Beginning in 2022, APHN, the Karunruk Palliative Care Center (KPC) at KKU and the Department of Healthcare and Rehabilitation of the Lao Ministry of Health worked together to strengthen palliative care capacity and improve access to essential services for people living with life-limiting illnesses in Lao PDR.
A major early milestone was the First Lao National Palliative Care Conference in February 2023, which brought together more than 200 healthcare professionals and generated strong interest in developing palliative care services and education. This momentum continued, with the Third Lao National Palliative Care Conference held in February 2025.
Capacity building has remained at the heart of the programme. Lao doctors and nurses underwent intensive training at KPC through the Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Care, combining theory, workshops and clinical practice. Four two-day workshops were conducted on symptom management, psychosocial care, end-of-life care and advance care planning. Eight nurses received extended training as palliative care coordinators, while 21 doctors and nurses completed Training of Trainers, strengthening the ability of Lao healthcare professionals to teach and develop palliative care within their own institutions.
Celebrating the Strength of the APHN Network
APHN and KKU also took the opportunity of the MOU occasion to bring the wider palliative care community together through a two-day workshop, “Management of Challenging Symptoms in Palliative Patients,” held on 13–14 August 2026 at KKU. Attended by approximately 200 participants, both onsite and online, the workshop addressed some of the difficult clinical and ethical challenges encountered in palliative care.
Topics included difficult pain management, the use of methadone and ketamine, dyspnoea and palliative sedation, malignant bowel obstruction, delirium, fatigue, psychological and spiritual distress, difficult decisions in palliative care, and ethical issues surrounding withholding and withdrawing life support.
The programme demonstrated the value of colleagues sharing knowledge across institutions and countries. Our sincere appreciation goes to all the presenters who contributed their expertise: A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal, Dr Laurence Tan Lean Chinn, Assoc. Prof. Srivieng Pairojkul, Assoc. Prof. Pongsatorn Paholpak, Assoc. Prof. Fa-ngam Chareonphon, Dr Attakorn Raksasataya and Ms Natchaya Bualakorn. Their willingness to teach, exchange experiences and engage with participants made the programme a success.
This is also the strength of APHN as a network. No single institution or country has all the answers. By connecting colleagues across the Asia Pacific, APHN provides a platform where expertise, experience and resources can be shared, and where professionals can learn from and support one another. Such collaboration allows knowledge developed in one setting to benefit patients, families and healthcare teams far beyond its borders.
It reflects APHN’s purpose of “upholding dignity, hope, and peace for individuals, families and communities impacted by serious illness across the Asia Pacific.”
Moving Forward with Phase 2
The new three-year partnership represents an important transition from establishing foundations towards strengthening sustainability and local ownership. Phase 2 will continue building the capacity of healthcare professionals and supporting the development and integration of palliative care services across Lao PDR.
The vision extends beyond training individuals. It seeks to develop local palliative care teams, strengthen service delivery in hospitals and communities, support palliative care education and improve access to essential medications for symptom management. Sustainability will ultimately depend on developing local trainers and leaders who can continue sharing knowledge, mentoring colleagues and expanding services throughout the country.
Our deepest appreciation goes to Assoc. Prof. Srivieng Pairojkul and the Karunruk Palliative Care Center team, the Faculty of Medicine at KKU, our Lao partners, faculty members and healthcare professionals who have contributed to this journey.
Above all, APHN expresses its sincere appreciation to the Lien Foundation for its continued support of the Lien Collaborative capacity-building programme. Its sustained commitment has enabled partnerships such as this to grow beyond training individuals towards developing local leadership, strengthening healthcare systems and building sustainable palliative care capacity. Together with our partners and the strength of the APHN network, we look forward to the next three years of bringing quality and compassionate palliative care closer to patients and families across Lao PDR.
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.
