Although the WHO recognizes palliative care as an essential health service, global coverage for patients with health-related suffering is still sub-optimal.
Many member states deprioritized palliative care during COVID, increasing patient and family suffering. This caused moral injury and burn out, leading to health worker attrition.
We suggest:
a) Adding sustainable access to palliative care in Article 6
b) Classifying controlled medications such as morphine as pandemic-related products.
c) Including palliative care in the multisectoral body mentioned in Article 17.
d) Inviting palliative care organizations to the proposed Conference of Parties.
We urge robust equity and workforce support provisions in the pandemic agreement, recognizing the central role of WHO.
IAHPC will support workforce training in palliative care and safe use of controlled medicines.