[Palliative Care Network - 20 years of experiences from Ticino / Southern Switzerland]

The PC program of the Italian speaking part of Switzerland (Ticino) has been developed bottom up since 1990. It was started with a palliative homecare service, called Hospice Ticino. Six years later PC consultant teams were introduced in the public hospitals. Finally in 2003 an acute palliative care unit was opened. Few resources are still lacking to ensure a comprehensive network, especially in the private clinics and in the elderly homes. Through the newly implemented National Strategy in PC 2010 - 12, the government of Canton Ticino has been charged with promoting a comprehensive, strategic and operative program in PC in order to guarantee access to high quality PC to every patient wherever he choses to be cared for. The article describes the history of Ticino's palliative care program, highlighting some of its controversial issues.