This is an annual unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world and the theme this year is: Ten Years Since the Resolution: How are we doing? The year 2024 marks 10 years since the World Health Assembly (WHO’s Governing Body) passed the only stand-alone resolution on palliative care, calling for all countries to “strengthen palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course.”

Palliative care is recognised as a fundamental component of health care systems, including Universal Health Coverage and primary health care. Yet, sadly, approximately 86% of people around the world who need palliative care cannot access it. Some 18 million people die every year with pain and suffering, due to lack of access. Much of the problem of lack of care is caused by a lack of awareness of how palliative care should be given, and why it is important.

On this World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, we call upon governments, policymakers and providers to prioritise and implement national strategies for bereaved populations based on a public health approach. It is estimated that for each death, up to 9 people are directly affected by the loss. Given that about 120 million people died over the past two years (including over 6 million from COVID), Then over a billion people are experiencing bereavement by one or more deaths of people significant to them in the past two years.

If you would like any further information, please visit the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day website for more information about events at http://www.thewhpca.org/world-hospice-and-palliative-care-day.

Source: The THE WORLDWIDE HOSPICE PALLIATIVE CARE ALLIANCE