Ground-breaking Palliative Care Resolution Adopted at World Health Assembly in Geneva

Signals progress to end unnecessary pain and suffering due to lack of quality care

The National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization joins other palliative care advocates across the globe in celebrating the resolution on palliative care adopted at the World Health Assembly on May 23, 2014 in Geneva, Switzerland.

The adoption of this first-ever resolution calling for the integration of hospice and palliative care  into national health services reflects growing awareness of the unaddressed care needs for the millions of people worldwide with  life-limiting conditions such as cancer, heart disease, HIV, and multi-drug resistant TB.

The resolution outlines clear recommendations to improve access and availability of hospice and palliative care. These include ensuring palliative care is included in all national health policies and budgets, and in the curricula for health professionals.  Iit also highlights the critical need for countries to ensure that there is an adequate supply of all essential palliative care medicines for appropriate pain control for adults and children.

The Sixty-seventh session of the World Health Assembly  took place in Geneva May, 19 – 24, 2014. The WHA is the supreme decision-making body of World Health Organization.

Read the full NHPCO press release (05/28/14).