Standards for Palliative Healthcare Services – 5th Edition – 2025
The accredited Standards for Palliative Healthcare Services are the only Standards that exist in South Africa for institutions that provide palliative care (aside from hospitals and clinics).
The APCC, the Council for Health Service Accreditation of Southern Africa and APCC members have worked long and hard on the Standards and with the accreditation confirmation in 2024 to update the 4th edition policies, systems, procedures, competencies and resources required to deliver vital palliative care.
The APCC offers a mentorship programme on Standards implementation to members. This mentorship programme is structured to assist members to meet the international standards compliance requirements and to be recommended for an external survey by COHSASA towards the achievement of the international accreditation status of the organisation.
The 5th edition of the STANDARDS FOR PALLIATIVE HEALTHCARE SERVICES is available free of charge.
For more information on the mentorship programme or additional guidelines on the implementation of the Standards, please email warren@apcc.org.za.
For more information on membership, please visit https://apcc.org.za/become-a-member/ or email warren@apcc.org.za.
South Africa’s Palliative Care Standards gain global recognition
It was a proud moment for South Africa when the accredited status of the 5th Edition of the Standards for Palliative Healthcare Services was formally recognised on the global stage.
Developed by the Association of Palliative Care Centres (APCC) in collaboration with COHSASA, this achievement was celebrated at the 41st International ISQua Conference — the world’s leading forum for healthcare quality and patient safety — held at the World Trade Centre in São Paulo, Brazil.
Major step forward
This latest edition marks a major step forward for palliative care in South Africa and the region. The Standards ensure that service providers deliver care aligned with global best practices in quality end-of-life support. Importantly, they remain the only formal palliative care standards in Southern Africa outside of existing hospital and clinic regulations.
Improve system effectiveness
Providing an internationally recognised framework, these Standards strengthen patient care, enhance professional competencies, and improve overall system effectiveness. Through APCC’s mentorship programme, more healthcare providers now have the guidance and opportunity to meet these standards and pursue international accreditation.
The ISQua conference, themed “Inclusive Health Systems: Navigating Challenges with Technology and Humanity”, brought together over 1,200 healthcare leaders from more than 80 countries. With eight specialised tracks and a strong focus on innovation and collaboration, the event showcased the best of global thinking in healthcare quality improvement.
(from left) Dr Philip Crowley, ISQua Board Member, Jacqui Stewart, CEO of COHSASA and Dr Carsten Engel, CEO of ISQua.
