Planning and implementing palliative care services: a guide for programme managers (2016)

2016, vi + 92 pages
ISBN 978 92 4 156541 7

Russian translation
2018, vii + 91 pages
ISBN 978 92 8 905357 0

In 2014, the first ever global resolution on palliative care, WHA67.19, called upon WHO and Member States to improve access to palliative care as a core component of health systems, with an emphasis on primary health care and community/home-based care. In the WHO Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases 2013-2020, palliative care is explicitly recognized as part of the comprehensive services required for the noncommunicable diseases. Member States have requested WHO to develop evidence-based tools on integrating palliative care into national health systems, across disease groups and levels of care.

This is a practical manual on how to plan and implement palliative care services, integrated into existing health care services, at national or sub-national level. It has been designed primarily for health programme managers at national, provincial, or district level, whether they are responsible for noncommunicable diseases, infectious disease programmes, health services, or other technical areas where palliative care is important. It aims to describe a range of options and starting points for building and strengthening palliative care services. A step-wise approach is outlined in each section as much as possible, with an emphasis on approaches feasible for low and middle income settings.