Welcome to IPCRC.NET
IPCRC.net, the International Palliative Care Resource Center is dedicated to:
- Making palliative care resources accessible for health care professionals
- Building palliative care capacity worldwide
- Providing a dynamic and constantly expanding website read more...close
Here you will find:
- An extensive array of palliative care resources including comfort, supportive, hospice, end-of-life, terminal and bereavement care.
- A design based on the Conceptual Framework of Palliative Care and the World Health Organization (WHO) Strategy for developing palliative care capacity.
Why use IPCRC.net?
- Educational: Use the buttons in the Table of Contents to access the information you want.
- Informative: Each link has a brief overview of the content at each website.
- Fast: Downloads quickly even on a slow telephone connection.
We welcome your suggestions for new resources. Send your suggestions for new resources to .
Technical Issues? Contact gdraeger@sweetthursdayweb.com
Treat the Pain / LIFE Before Death
View, share, engage, discuss, learn about…
16. 'Pain in China'
There is a widespread cultural fear of the use of opioids in China and other parts of Asia. Pain is often treated with a variety of traditional Chinese medicine techniques rather than with essential medicines.
Underserved & Vulnerable Populations: November 2022
A few months ago I announced that I was “scaling back Media Watch” to focus on articles involving end-of-life care for underserved and vulnerable populations. I have decided to retire, but very much a keen observer from "the wings." My decision was noted in the October issue of the newsletter of the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care: view source ». This is the last issue, therefore, of Media Watch …and, I take this opportunity to express my most sincere gratitude for the expressions of appreciation and support from so many members of the hospice and palliative care communities-at-large who helped in no small measure to extend the reach of Media Watch as an advocacy, research and teaching tool. read more...close
Better regulation of end-of-life care
Existing regulation of end-of-life care is flawed. Problems include poorly-designed laws, policies, ethical codes, training, and funding programs, which often are neither effective nor helpful in guiding decision-making. This leads to adverse outcomes for patients, families, health professionals, and the health system as a whole. A key factor contributing to the harms of current regulation is a siloed approach to regulating end-of-life care. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry article (full text): view source »
New report sets out an optimistic vision to improve care for children with life-limiting conditions worldwide
A recent report examines the state of children’s palliative care (CPC) worldwide, and sets out an “unashamedly optimistic” vision for how to radically improve the levels of care for the rapidly growing number of children around the world with life-limiting conditions. 'The children’s palliative care provider of the future: A blueprint to spark, scale and share innovation,' outlines nine critical features of CPC services. This includes physical, emotional, and social support for children and their families to ensure the best possible quality of life. Institute of Global Health Innovation report: view source »
Co-designing community out-of-hours palliative care services: A systematic literature search and review
The review found that out-of-hours palliative care service research does not report a high level of end-user engagement. Whist challenging, incorporating end-users’ priorities and preferences through the application of co-design principles in the planning and designing of out-of-hours palliative care service can help align care to the needs and values prioritised by patients and their families. Palliative Medicine (full text): view source »
Download the complete issue (PDF 425 KB)
Review the 'Global Palliative Care News' Archive »
Crossroads of Grief Project -- Grieving or Bereaved Children: Literature Review (2015-2018)
The Children & Youth Grief Network of Peel Region (in Ontario, Canada) recently published a review of the literature focused on the many different aspects of grief and bereavement among children and young people. The main focus is on the evidence-based studies published in peer-reviewed journals, reflecting current thinking on the many issues identified. You can download/view an overview of the literature (PDF .8 MB) or the full literature review (PDF .8 MB).
Always Changing
EPERC Fast Facts: What's New (open access)
Review the latest EPERC Fast Facts; access all the Fast Facts
JCO Art of Oncology (open access)
New articles posted monthly… also read this special article:
Review the 'New on IPCRC.net' Archive »
New on IPCRC.net
WHO: Noncommunicable diseases country profiles 2011
The noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) situation in 193 countries
ESMO Guide: "How to Get the Most out of Your Oncologist: a Guide for Patients with Advanced Cancer" (PDF 2 MB)
For patients and their family members, it provides practical advice regarding cancer care, communicating with oncologists, important questions to ask, getting information and the challenges of living with an advanced cancer. For practicing oncologists, the guide will serve as a tool to help focus important discussions with their patients and to assist in addressing the many issues their patients are confronting.
I Was Sick and You Cared for Me: a Church-based Response to Palliative Care in Tanzania
A report of a two-year pilot project led by international NGO Tearfund, with support from the Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund, to introduce palliative care into the hospitals and remote communities of Tanzania's lake zone, in the north of the country. (PDF 946KB)
Palliative Care Development in Africa: How Can We Provide Enough Quality Care? R A Powell, F N Mwangi-Powell, F Kiyange, L Radbruch, R Harding. BMJ Support Palliat Care 2011;1:113-114
Thinking Ahead: My Life at the End
A resource for people with developmental disabilities to advocate for themselves and stay in control of their lives through the end of their lives. Open access. PDFs available in Chinese, English, Korean, Spanish
Pain Code: Get Pain Under Control Quickly, Charles von Gunten, Provost, the Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice on Medscape
How to get the pain under control quickly when there's a pain crisis.
Palliative Care: What Approaches are Suitable in Developing Countries? By Henry Ddungu, MD, Uganda, in the British Journal of Haematology 2011; 154(6): 728–735. PMID: 21707576.
Balsam: The Lebanese Center for Palliative Care
A non-governmental organization that works to relieve patient suffering and improve quality of life.
Variation between End-of-Life Health Care Costs in Los Angeles and San Diego: Why are They so Different? Kaplan RM. J Palliat Med. 2011 Feb;14(2):215-20. PMID: 21314574 Open Access.
Medical care, particularly at the end of life, is significantly more expensive in Los Angeles (LA) (> US $43,000 in the last 2 years of life) than in San Diego (< US $29,000), yet quality measures tend to favor in San Diego. Non-emergent hospital admissions and inpatient care at the end of life are important contributors to the cost differences. There is little reason to believe that the greater spending for health care in LA results in better patient outcomes
Early Palliative Care for Patients with Metastatic Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer. Temel JS, Greer JA, Muzikansky A, Gallagher ER, Admane S, Jackson VA, Dahlin CM, Blinderman CD, Jacobsen J, Pirl WF, Billings JA, Lynch TJ. N Engl J Med. 2010 Aug 19;363(8):733-42. PMID: 20818875 Open Access.
Among patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer, early palliative care led to significant improvements in both quality of life and mood. As compared with patients receiving standard care, patients receiving early palliative care had less aggressive care at the end of life but longer survival.
ACS: American Cancer Society International Fellowships for Beginning Investigators (ACSBI), Application Deadline November 01, 2011
The ACSBI fellowship emphasizes the transfer of knowledge from the host institute to others at the home institute. It offers the fellow the opportunity to be mentored by experts in the chosen field, receive hands on experience in clinical, behavioural or basic research, intellectual stimulation, research guidance, narrative transfer and many other opportunities to evolve scientifically and academically.
Frank D. Ferris presents Goals and Challenges of Palliative Care on UCSD TV
Frank D. Ferris discusses Palliative Care on CFAX Canadian Radio (audio only)
Freedom from Pain, Al Jazeera TV, July 20, 2011
For many in the West pain ends with a pill, but elsewhere the war on drugs is cutting people off from pain medication.
Global Task Force on Expanded Access to Cancer Care and Control
An initiative convened by the Harvard Global Equity Initiative, the Harvard Medical School, the Harvard School of Public Health and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute to design, implement and evaluate innovative, multi-stakeholder strategies for expanding access to cancer prevention, detection and care.
- Closing the Cancer Divide - The Global Equity Imperative of Expanding Access in Low and Middle-Income Countries, Conference, October 28, 2011, Boston
Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa Congress, August 2011
View videos of the congress presentations
Human Rights Watch: Ukraine: Uncontrolled Pain Ukraine's Obligation to Ensure Evidence-Based
This 93-page report describes Ukrainian government policies that make it impossible for cancer patients living in rural areas to get essential pain medications.
IOM Report: Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Care, Education, and Research (open access)
In this report, the IOM offers a blueprint for action in transforming prevention, care, education, and research, with the goal of providing relief for people with pain in America.
Kenya National Cancer Control Strategy 2011-2016 published in August 2011 (PDF 650KB)
The Lancet: Managing pain effectively, 25 June 2011; 377 (9784):2151 (open access)
An overview of The Lancet's new clinical Series focusing on treatments for postoperative, chronic non-cancer, and chronic cancer pain.
MECC: Can We Overcome the Effect of Conflicts in Rendering Palliative Care? An Introduction to the Middle Eastern Cancer Consortium (MECC) Current Oncology Reports 2011; 13 (4): 302-307, PMID: 21538041
"Pawsitive Pals"
A video highlighting San Diego Hospice's Pet Therapy Program
Republic of Georgia Updates
Watch several recent videos on palliative care; download the 2011-2015 Strategic Plan for Palliative Care
Stop Torture in Health Care, Open Society Foundations
Millions of people are left to suffer in pain without access to proper medicines. read more...close
The severity of the pain experienced by patients denied pain relief can be as great or greater than that of traditional torture techniques, and it can last longer. Although not acting out of malice, health workers and policymakers restrict access to pain medicines for inappropriate reasons such as exaggerated fears of addiction, failure to educate or train physicians in palliative care, arbitrary regulations on morphine-derived substances, and preoccupation with drug control rather than concern for people with pain.
- 50 milligrams is not enough
A video presenting the story of Vlad and his suffering from uncontrolled pain
Strategic Planning Summit for the Advancement of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacy
The Summit was developed by a multidisciplinary advisory board including pharmacists, physicians and nurses to examine the education and development of pharmacists on pain and palliative care across the entire professional continuum.
Switzerland: National Cancer Program 2005 – 2010
Incorporating palliative care…PDFs available in French, German and English.
Wolfson International Bursaries 2011, Help the Hospices
This grant programme aims to increase and improve the provision of palliative care in commonwealth resource-poor countries.
5 Stories: highlights San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
Review the 'New on IPCRC.net' Archive »
IPM International Program Partners
The International Programs at the Institute for Palliative Medicine at San Diego Hospice is delighted to have many partners in our international work.
Funding Partners
Help us to expand the resources on this site quickly.
Please send your suggestions to
Technical Issues? Contact gdraeger@sweetthursdayweb.com
Page Last Modified: Sat Jul 2 2022