Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.

In the Asia-Pacific region, the demand for palliative care is high. Many patients are diagnosed in the advanced stages of disease, and are likely to suffer physically and psychologically because of the limited resources for early diagnosis and treatment. 

To provide optimum care for this group of patients, palliative care is very important, but unfortunately the provision of palliative care appears inadequate in many parts of this region.

Globally, in 2011, over 29 million (29,063,194) people died from diseases requiring palliative care. The estimated number of people in need of palliative care at the end of life is 20.4 million.

APHN is the regional umbrella body dedicated to promoting hospice and palliative care in Asia and the Pacific.

Our purpose is to empower and support organisations and individuals committed to alleviating suffering from life-threatening illness.

We promote education and skills development, enhance awareness and communication, and foster research and collaboration. We encourage established programmes to assist less experienced and more isolated colleagues.

Find out more here!

In order to be able to provide high-quality care at the end of life and avoid unnecessary suffering, the people who provide that care must be equipped with the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to be able to do so. Palliative care education must therefore be widely available in the community and accepted as a core component of learning in the health and social care professions. Unfortunately, less developed regions do not have sufficient access to such opportunities or resources.

With your donations, you will enable us to continue to provide educational opportunities and resources to palliative care workers the Asia Pacific region. These resources directly affect patient care and can help to contribute to the development of palliative care in the Asia Pacific.

Every contribution you make, big or small, will make a difference. We thank you for this meaningful gift to support our work.