World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is the global day of action for hospice and palliative care. It is taking place this year on 14 October 2017 to raise awareness of palliative care as a crucial, defining part of Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

The sub-theme is: CARE, COUNT, COST.

CARE

It isn’t UHC without universal access to palliative care. Palliative care is an essential, defining part of Universal Health Coverage (promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services).

UHC means that all people and communities can use the promotive, preventive, curative, rehabilitative and palliative health services they need. We must bring UHC including palliative care to those who need it most.

COUNT

What gets measured gets done. We need to measure palliative care as part of UHC. 40 million people need palliative care annually including 20 million at the end of life. In 42% of the world’s countries there is ZERO availability of palliative care.

COST

No one should face destitution and poverty when they get sick. Paying for costly treatment or travel to treatment and care services as well as loss of income by the person who is ill or their carers can lead to financial risk. Palliative care can reduce the financial burden driven by serious chronic and life-limiting illness.

About World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and Voices for Hospices

The World Hospice and Palliative Care Day campaign is an opportunity to raise awareness and funds to support and develop hospice and palliative care services around the world.

It will help local, national and international hospice and palliative care providers and organisations to clearly position palliative care as part of UHC, and help to advocate for this with national policymakers, so that those suffering are not left behind. 

Voices for Hospices is a wave of concerts around the world taking place on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day every two years.

Take action!

Visit the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day website for this year’s materials, key messages and resources.

Organise an event

Organise an event to celebrate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and to raise awareness of palliative care as an essential defining part of UHC.

Register your World Hospice and Palliative Care Day event on the website.

Tell a friend

Talk to at least one person about World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. Visit the website for all the facts. Follow and share the campaign on Social Media using the hashtag #WHPCDay17