European Association for Palliative Care

EU Legislative Interests

Areas of EU Health and Research are of particular interest to the EAPC include: management and treatment of all life-limiting conditions and chronic disease management across the lifespan. Access to Healthcare; Access to Medicines; Innovative Treatments; Quality of (Health)Care. Specific legislative and related implementation acts that the EAPC follows include: EU4Health Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and other research initiatives, Medicines Regulation (in particular related to access to controlled medication), Human Rights etc. EAPC also follows EU initiatives in the following broad areas: Social Affairs, Skills and Education, Digital agenda, Mobility, Human Rights and Children’s Rights, Justice, Disability, Employment, Consumers etc. The EAPC has, and continues to be involved in several European Union Funded research projects on palliative care. As well as producing well-utilised guidelines on cancer pain management in 2001 and reviewing and revising the guidelines in 2012, the EAPC was also a partner in the European Union funded project, ATOME (Access to opioid medication in Europe). This project investigated the reasons why opioid medication was inadequately used for moderate to severe pain in twelve European countries and provided evidence to support improved access to opioids. The EAPC is also represented on the European Commission funded Civil Society Forum on Drugs. Whilst much of the work of this group focuses on the tackling the issue of illicit use of drugs, the EAPC provides an expert voice on access to opioids for pain management for those requiring palliative care. We are also currently lobbying to establish a Civil Society Forum on Palliative Care in order to advocate and lobby for access to and improvements in palliative care across Europe. In 2019, the WHO withdrew two sets of guidelines on the use of opioids, one in children and the other in adults. The EAPC was involved the establishment of new and updated guidelines.

Communication Activities

The EAPC is recognised by the Council of Europe, has informal links with the World Health Organisation and is involved in several European Union Funded research projects on palliative care. The EAPC is also represented on the European Commission funded Civil Society Forum on Drugs. Whilst much of the work of this group focuses on the tackling the issue of illicit use of drugs, the EAPC provides an expert voice on access to opioids for pain management for those requiring palliative care. The EAPC world congress takes place on alternate years and is attended by up to 3000 delegates from Europe and across the globe. The European Association for Palliative Care also hosts a biennial congress EAPC World Research Congress attended by around 1000 delegates. The EAPC have a long and proud history of producing highly-respected and well-cited position papers, white papers, reports and academic papers about the key issues in palliative care. Work for these papers is undertaken by groups of members known as task forces. The topic of papers can either be proposed by the Board of the EAPC, or others arise from ideas suggested by EAPC members who are encouraged to develop proposals. Current task forces include: Palliative care for refugees and migrants; Palliative care for Prisoners; Palliative care for children etc. Current reference groups are: Palliative care in primary care; Palliative care in Neurology; Palliative care for people with intellectual disabilities; Palliative Care as a public health issue etc.

Interests Represented

Does not represent commercial interests

Member Of

We have links with several other organisations including: European Academy of Neurology (EAN) European Cancer Organisation (ECO) International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) International Children's Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) European Society of Cardiology (ESC)

Organisation Members

https://www.eapcnet.eu/national-association-members/