Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network

25/03/2026

⏳ Only 3 weeks to go! Have you signed up yet?

Join us for the second session of our 2026 Webinar Series on “Palliative Care in the ICU” and learn from leading experts in the field:

🎤 Adjunct Assistant Professor Poi Choo Hwee (Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore)
🎤 Dr Nittha Oer-areemitr (KOON Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand)

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

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insights into integrating palliative care in intensive care settings and improving patient care.

🔗 Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rTOUAPnrTgGDT1rZ58ZC2Q

24/03/2026

Life begins with a cry — and ends with a final breath. Between these two moments lies a lifetime of relationships, memories, and meaning. This reflective piece published on ehospice explores how birth and death mirror one another, reminding us of the profound cycles that shape the human experience 👇

From First Breath to Last Breath.When someone asks me what I do, I usually say:“I care for patients with chronic and life-limiting illnesses.

23/03/2026

When individuals with intellectual disabilities approach the end of their lives, what they need most is not the cold presence of medical equipment, but the comfort of familiar surroundings and the warmth of trusted companionship.

In recent years, Chiayi Francis Home and Changhua County Erlin Happy Christian Home have begun exploring how palliative care can be practiced within residential care facilities. Moving beyond the fear caused by unfamiliar hospital settings, and gradually building interdisciplinary care teams within their facilities, these institutions—guided by courage and faith—are creating the possibility for residents to spend their final days in a place they can truly call home.

Read more👇

When individuals with intellectual disabilities approach the end of their lives, what they need most is not the cold presence of medical equipment, but the comfort of familiar surroundings and the warmth of trusted companionship. In recent years, Chiayi Francis Home and Changhua County Erlin Happy C...

22/03/2026

"I may not have much time left, but it helps to know someone still cares."

This moment during a home visit reminds Tay Jia Sen why he chose hospice care. From digital design to medical social work, his path led him to where presence matters as much as expertise.

Now a Community Care Manpower Development Awards recipient, he's proof that compassion paired with continuous learning can transform both careers and lives.

Read his story 👇

Guiding someone through life’s final moments takes both skill and heart. For Senior Medical Social Worker Tay Jia Sen, receiving the Community Care Manpower Development Awards (CCMDA) was a meaningful encouragement to sharpen his professional skills and deepen his commitment to compassionate care.

21/03/2026

At the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters 2026, one of South India’s largest literary gatherings, Pallium India brought the message of palliative care to a broader public audience.

Through a dedicated stall, the team showcased creative products made by patients under their rehabilitation programme — including crochet items, candles, and handmade crafts — demonstrating how care can restore dignity, purpose, and creativity. Proceeds from these items directly support patients receiving palliative care.

Events like this help connect healthcare, art, and community — opening conversations about serious illness, compassion, and the human stories at the heart of palliative care.

👉 Read more: https://ehospice.com/india_posts/pallium-india-at-mathrubhumi-international-festival-of-letters-mbifl-2026/

20/03/2026

At Ruchimela 2026, organised by Pallium India, food brought people together — not just to eat, but to care. What may have seemed like a simple food festival was, in reality, a powerful community effort, with staff, volunteers, and even beneficiaries preparing homemade dishes to support palliative care initiatives.

Over two days, the event welcomed hundreds of visitors and raised funds to support patients and families — while also sparking meaningful conversations about palliative care. Every meal shared became an act of compassion, showing how community and creativity can make a real difference.

✨ A beautiful reminder that care can take many forms — sometimes, it starts with a shared table.

👉 Read more: https://ehospice.com/india_posts/ruchimela-2026-when-food-became-fellowship-and-fundraising/

19/03/2026

Death is traditionally a topic many avoid, but in Singapore a growing number of young people are confronting it head‑on — from authoring books on funerary customs to facilitating conversations about end‑of‑life care, and even making radical career changes. One 33‑year‑old took a 90 % pay cut to become an “afterlife agent”, helping families navigate funerals and find peace of mind during a difficult time.

These initiatives are part of a broader cultural shift: death cafes, open discussions, and even new academic programmes on thanatology are encouraging more open, honest dialogue about mortality, grief, and planning for the end of life.

👇Read the full article

Discover why young Singaporeans are embracing death and transforming the funeral industry with new perspectives and innovative approaches. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

18/03/2026

We’re excited to invite you to the second session of our 2026 Webinar Series, focusing on “Palliative Care in the ICU”—an increasingly important area in supporting critically ill patients and their families.

🗓 16 April 2026 (Thursday)
🕝 2:30–3:30 pm (Singapore Time)
💻 Live on Zoom | 1-hour session + Q&A

We are honoured to welcome our speakers:

Adj. Asst. Prof. Poi Choo Hwee (Dept of Palliative Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore) & Dr Nittha Oer-areemitr (KOON Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand)

Together, they will share insights on integrating palliative care into ICU settings and improving care for patients with serious illness.

🔗 Register here:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/rTOUAPnrTgGDT1rZ58ZC2Q

18/03/2026

📣Applications are now closed and all applications have been reviewed. Applicants please check your inbox for the results.

📣FINAL FEW DAYS TO APPLY📣

This scholarship offers dedicated paediatric healthcare professionals the chance to attend the upcoming EPEC-Paediatrics Train-the-Trainer (TtT) Conference in Hong Kong, featuring state-of-the-art training in paediatric palliative care.

🌟 We are offering Three (3) Scholarships that will cover the full registration fee for the Train-the-Trainer (TtT) conference only. (❗ Note: Travel, accommodation, visa, and daily expenses are the responsibility of the applicant.)

📅 Application Deadline: 15 March 2026, Sunday

To find out more and to apply: https://aphn.org/scholarship-opportunity-epec-paediatrics-2026-hong-kong

17/03/2026

How compassionate is Aotearoa when it comes to dying and death?

This is the question behind our campaign, www.DyingReviews.org. After receiving more than 500 responses, we felt it was time to bring this important conversation into the open.

A huge thank you to One News for helping share the story, and to the Queenstown businesses who showed what compassion in action can truly look like.

Most of all, thank you to Karen and Deborah. You are incredible ambassadors for living every moment and for embracing dying and grief in ways that are both inspiring and life-giving.

Watch Karen and Deborah’s story here: https://youtu.be/dT02AAIOGi0

If you’d like to be part of the conversation, leave your review at www.dyingreviews.org

16/03/2026

In Bhutan, a quiet revolution in palliative care is unfolding.

Healthcare teams are learning to expand compassionate end-of-life care beyond cancer—to heart failure, renal disease & chronic conditions.

From hospital wards to home visits, Module 6 of the APHN-Lien Collaborative brought together surgeons, oncologists & nurses to ask: How do we honor patient wishes? When do we prioritise comfort?

With palliative care soon entering Bhutan's medical school curriculum, the future looks hopeful.

Read the full reflection by one of our faculty members about the Land of the Thunder Dragon 👇

Despite cool and misty skies that prevented our aircraft from landing after several attempts, our team received an exceptionally warm welcome on arrival. Dr Kinley Bhuti, the only doctor in […]

15/03/2026

🌇What happens when caregiving comes to an end?

🎭Informal caregivers of patients with terminal cancer can experience an emotionally difficult time in the final stages of their caregiving journey with implications on their bereavement experience.

🔎This study examined anxiety and depression among caregivers of terminal cancer patients and subsequent bereavement adjustment.

🔗Read the full paper— link in the comments.

📖Psycho-Oncology

🖊️Irene Teo, Isha Chaudhry, Lindy Quek, Sean Ng, Semra Ozdemir, Chetna Malhotra, Eric Finkelstein; COMPASS group