The European Association for Palliative Care: forging a vision of excellence in palliative care

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The European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) represents 46 national associations from 27 European countries and more than 50 000 health care workers and volunteers working or interested in palliative care. The area of influence includes 23 developing countries, most of them in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Even though many countries are improving rapidly in their economy and the development of their health care systems, there still are major gaps between Western and Eastern European countries. EAPC has produced guidance on different areas of palliative care from symptom assessment to organization of care. The congresses and research congresses as well as the website (www.eapcnet.eu) are renowned platforms for dissemination and exchange of information. The research network and a number of task forces are active on a wide range of topics. Members from developing countries can benefit from these activities, and, for example, pan-European comparisons such as the Atlas of Palliative Care in Europe have been used with good effect for advocacy work in individual countries. EAPC actions such as the Budapest Commitments and the Venice Declaration also have been useful for developing countries. However, more specific support is needed for the developing countries. EAPC has set up a newsletter for Eastern European and Central Asian countries that is available in English and Russian, and more recently also a Russian website (www.eapcspeaksrussian.eu). A survey on information needs is currently under way to provide a basis for more tailored provision of information and knowledge. More specifically the ATOME project (Access to Opioid Medications in Europe) funded in the seventh Framework programme of the European Commission works at the improvement of access to opioids for medical and scientific use in 12 East and South European countries. As a first central project goal, a revised version of the World Health Organization policy guidelines on ensuring balance in access to controlled medicines has been released only recently. The European Association for Palliative Care produces high-quality expert advice, with congresses, publications, the website and various other activities. Palliative care professionals from Eastern European and Central Asian countries benefit from these activities. In addition, EAPC has initiated additional activities with a focus on developing countries, ranging from information needs assessment to specific research projects. The range of activities of EAPC is only possible with the continuing input of palliative care professionals from all over Europe. Palliative care professionals from developing countries are invited to contribute and share the successes of EAPC.