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The EAPC co-ordination centre for Eastern Europe
One of the top priorities of the EAPC for the future is the development of high quality palliative care in Eastern Europe. Through a grant from the Open Society Institute (OSI a George Soros Foundation), the EAPC co-ordination centre at Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation in Stockholm, Sweden, has been funded for a second year.
The first priority of the co-ordination centre was to survey palliative care needs in different countries. Results point to high priority for activities related to education and training, legislation and policy questions among politicians, professionals and public.
The current aims of the project include the work for common minimal standards for palliative care services. Both the eastern and western part of Europe will hopefully engage in this implementary work. Education and training on a pedagogic level, quality assurance programs and the realisation of centres with minimal standards proved by audit are other areas of activity. The vision, of course, are palliative care centres of excellence!
The great challenge for us all is to support this development and to match it with improvement and audit in palliative care services all over Europe.
The centre is responsible to EAPC and acts as responsively as possible to proposals and suggestions communicated to us. A network of contacts and initiatives are currently growing! !
We invite all those working for the same goals to contact us. We would also like to get in contact with people living outside the Eastern European countries who are engaged in activities in Eastern Europe. Please inform us about what you are doing. If there is anyone who would like to contribute in any way to palliative care in Eastern Europe, please let us know.
Stockholms Sjukhem Foundation in Stockholm, which is linked to the Karolinska Institute, locally supports the EAPC centre. Stockholms Sjukhem has a comprehensive palliative care service and is a growing and dynamic centre also for education and research.
Sylvia Sauter, Centre manager
Carl Johan Fürst, Centre director
Stockholms Sjukhem
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