Palliative Care in South Africa

The Hospice Palliative Care Association (HPCA) was established in 1987 by hospices in South Africa who felt the need for a national body to share best practices and to promote palliative care services in South Africa. HPCA supports member hospices in providing palliative care to people of any age with a life-limiting condition. HPCA has the further aim to ensure access to palliative care in settings other than member hospices. Many projects were launched over the years to influence policy, and to educate medical practitioners, nurses, social workers, theologians, and community caregiver; and to develop services. A key initiative was the development of a mentorship program to assist organizations to develop accredited palliative care services in South Africa. This article highlights some of the HPCA projects funded over the years by the Open Society Foundations' International Palliative Care Initiative.