Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network

05/01/2026

📣 Just 2 weeks to go!

We’re kicking off our 2026 Webinar Series with a session on Therapeutic Communication — a vital skill at the heart of quality palliative care.

🗓 19 January 2026 (Monday)
🕝 2:30–3:30 pm SGT
💻 Live on Zoom | 1-hour session + Q&A

🎤 Speaker: Prof CHOW Y.M. Amy, University of Hong Kong

Join us to explore how thoughtful communication can support patients, families, and care teams.

🔗 Register now:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_a21TzaiQlaAa5512dKyrw

04/01/2026

⏰ DEADLINE EXTENDED – FINAL REMINDER! 📣

The submission deadline to bid for hosting the 18th Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference (APHC) 2029 has been extended to 28 February 2026, 11:59 PM (SGT).

This is a unique opportunity for APHN member organisations to bring the region’s flagship palliative care conference to your country and showcase your local leadership, partnerships, and impact.

📄 Be sure to download the updated bidding documents and submit your completed application to the Secretariat Office before the deadline.

👇 View details and download bid forms here:

The Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) Council warmly invites member organisations wishing to host the 18th Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference 2029 to send in their application. […]

03/01/2026

Join an upcoming workshop on Clinical Ethics in Palliative Care 2026 hosted by Hospis Malaysia ! This workshop explores a wide range of ethical issues in palliative care, primarily through in-depth case discussions.

Date: 10–11 January 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Venue: Hospis Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

🔗For more details and to register, please visit: https://hospismalaysia.org/clinical-ethics-in-palliativecare-2026/

02/01/2026

Caregiving is one of the most loving — and often toughest — roles a person can take on. This thoughtful article from the Singapore Hospice Council follows the story of a caregiver juggling work, family and the care of two loved ones, and calls for a shift in how we see and support caregivers. It highlights the emotional and practical challenges caregivers face — from daily care tasks to anticipatory grief — and reminds us that caregivers are not just helpers, but care partners who need compassion, resources and resilience too.

Read the full story 👇

Through the experience of a caregiver who had to take care of both her parents while raising four children, a social worker who continues to upskill and a researcher looking to change the perspective…

01/01/2026

🎉 Happy New Year 2026 from APHN! 🎉

As we welcome 2026, we celebrate the incredible dedication, collaboration, and achievements of our members, partners, and supporters across the Asia-Pacific region.

2025 was a year of growth — from strengthening psychosocial care and training healthcare professionals, to connecting at conferences and webinars across the region. Together, we’ve advanced palliative care, shared knowledge, and built stronger networks of support for patients and families.

Here’s to a new year filled with compassion, collaboration, and meaningful impact. We look forward to continuing this journey with you in 2026!

31/12/2025

Pain is more than a physical sensation — it speaks to our deepest fears, vulnerabilities, and the stories we carry. This insightful piece explores how pain can shape emotion, identity, and relationships, and highlights the importance of compassionate care that listens with both skill and heart.

Read the full article and reflect with us👇

  – Dr. Dhanashri Kudal, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (Originally published in the IAPC Newsletter. You may read the article there by clicking this link.

30/12/2025

The 1st West Bengal Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (WBIAPCON) concluded successfully in Kolkata, bringing together doctors, nurses, social workers and community leaders for a day of inspiring learning and collaboration. With pre‑conference workshops on communication, cancer pain management and nursing issues, and thought‑provoking scientific sessions led by palliative care pioneers, the event built momentum for stronger care systems across the region.

Read more👇

The 1st West Bengal Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (WBIAPCON) concluded successfully at the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Kolkata, on Su

29/12/2025

We’re delighted to share the successful conclusion of the second round of the Mandarin Psychosocial Care Programme, where 27 healthcare professionals, social workers and volunteers came together in a meaningful journey of learning and reflection. The programme included 28 weekly sessions delivered online and wrapped up in Beijing with a heartfelt closing ceremony that deepened understanding of psychosocial care through rich discussions and interactive workshops on family conferences and communication.

Read more 👇

In Round 2 of the Mandarin Psychosocial Care Programme, we were heartened to welcome 27 participants comprising healthcare professionals, social workers, and volunteers. A team of 10 dedicated trainers conducted 28 sessions every Thursday evening via the […]

28/12/2025

Anticipatory grief is the emotional journey that begins before a loss occurs — especially in the context of life-limiting illness. It can affect patients, families and caregivers in deep and complex ways, shaping how we cope, connect, and make meaning in the time we have. In this thoughtful piece, Sarah Vercoe explores the emotional landscapes of hope, fear, uncertainty and love — and offers insight into how we can better recognize and support each other through this process.

Read more and deepen your understanding here👇

Grief doesn’t always wait for death to arrive. It can begin quietly, unfolding in layers as we anticipate loss. When someone enters palliative care, gr

27/12/2025

The first national congress of PERDOPIN — the Indonesian Palliative Physicians Association — took place on 28–29 November, bringing together healthcare professionals from across the country for the first time to strengthen knowledge, build networks, and accelerate progress in palliative care practice. With a truly multidisciplinary programme and inspiring leadership, this gathering marked hope, unity and forward momentum for palliative care services in Indonesia.

Read more👇

  The first national congress of PERDOPIN—Perhimpunan Dokter Paliatif Indonesia (the Indonesian Palliative Physicians Association)—held on 28–29 N

26/12/2025

The Pediatric Palliative Care Leadership Workshop in Manila brought together healthcare professionals and advocates from across the Asia Pacific to strengthen leadership, collaboration, and capacity in children’s palliative care. Grounded in the WHO palliative care framework, the workshop created space for shared learning, practical discussions, and meaningful regional connections.

More than knowledge exchange, it was about building lasting partnerships to improve care for children with life-limiting conditions across diverse settings.

Read more👇

  Authors: St. Jude Global Palliative Care Team and International Children’s Palliative Care Network   Somehow, a month has already passed

25/12/2025

Nepal’s 50,000+ Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs)—recently honored as WHO Public Health Champions—are now transforming rural palliative care. Through the Sunita Project, over 400 FCHVs were trained to identify patients in need, provide practical home-based care (like preventing bedsores), and offer vital emotional support to both patients and their families. By acting as a crucial link between remote communities and health services, these volunteers ensure that holistic, compassionate care reaches those who need it most.

Read more about their incredible impact👇

Nepal has made a remarkable achievement in improving the health of its population over 30 years. Maternal mortality rates fell from 901 per 100,000 live births