A White Paper for Palliative Care

White Paper for Global Palliative Care Advocacy: This work is the result of an initiative launched in 2017, after the Sovereign Pontiff’s audience with the participants in the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life. The white paper was written by 13 experts, all eminent, internationally recognized health professionals.

Presented during a press conference at the Academy’s headquarters, the document offers several propositions. The white paper encourages medical schools to organize mandatory formation courses as an integral part of the academic curriculum. 

The media is also invited to participate in a “culture of awareness on palliative care”, and hospital structures and pharmacists are encouraged to provide basic medicine at a reasonable price. 

Throughout the world, over 40 million people are currently in need of palliative care. This number continues to increase due to the aging of the population.