[Global] Palliative care integration into humanitarian settings ten years since the resolution

[Global] Palliative care integration into humanitarian settings ten years since the resolution

ehospice, Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA); 11/5/24

[At a webinar celebrating the] tenth anniversary of the World Health Assembly (WHO) 2014 Resolution ... Dr. Roberta Ortiz, representing the World Health Organization (WHO), provided a comprehensive overview of global efforts to integrate palliative care into humanitarian responses. She emphasised WHO’s strategic initiatives following the ten-year resolution aimed at expanding access to palliative care. Key points from her session included:

• The ongoing collaboration between WHO and various countries to address palliative care needs in humanitarian settings, particularly in the context of rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) amid crises.
• The impact of humanitarian crises like natural disasters and conflicts on health systems, stressing the ethical responsibility to provide compassionate care.
• WHO’s production of key guidance documents, including an operational manual for non-communicable diseases in emergencies, offering practical tools for policymakers.
• Specific examples of regional efforts, such as collaboration with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) in Latin America to address palliative care in regions like the Darién Gap, involving multi-stakeholder approaches for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Ortiz’s session underscored the importance of normative guidelines, country-level support, and leadership in ensuring that palliative care becomes a core element of emergency responses globally.