The completion of the 2024 Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Institute marked a major step in strengthening paediatric palliative care across South and Southeast Asia.
This innovative programme brought together 19 emerging healthcare leaders from India, Nepal, Philippines, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, uniting them with a shared mission: to ensure and expand access to palliative care for children. Listen to Dr. Megan Doherty sharing the collective vision, implementation and hope for future here.
The final report of the programme is available here, which includes profiles of each leadership scholar and their project.
Dr. Thushari D. Hapuarachchi from Sri Lanka, a 2024 Children’s Palliative Care Scholar, reflected on the journey: “It has been a wonderful one-year experience alongside brilliant mentors, incredible companions, and dedicated leaders. Through teamwork and collaborative leadership, we achieved remarkable results, proving the power of unity in advancing care. A truly memorable milestone in my oncology career!”
Achievements of the Programme
Led by Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration (TWCC) and supported by PRPCS, Sunflower Children’s Network, Canuck Place Children’s Hospice, CIPLA Foundation, Global Tree House Foundation, International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN), Stanford University and St Jude Global Palliative Care, the programme empowered future leaders through online sessions, in-person workshops, mentorship, and immersive learning experiences.
A major highlight was the ‘experiential learning’ through scholars’ leadership change projects, aimed at improving paediatric palliative care accessibility and quality in their regions by applying the principles and strategies real time. The graduation ceremony held on the 28th of January 2025 in Hyderabad celebrated these achievements, with scholars presenting their projects in an engaging format alongside the incoming 2025 cohort.
Dr. Tara Devi Laabar from Bhutan emphasised the impact of the programme: “The Children’s Palliative Care Leadership Program 2024 introduced paediatric palliative care across Bhutan’s referral hospitals and helped form a core team at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Bhutan. It also inspired a senior paediatrician to pursue a Fellowship in Paediatric Palliative Medicine.”
Notable Leadership Projects
The 2024 scholars led transformative initiatives, such as:
- End-of-life care services in the Philippines
- Paediatric Palliative care training manual for Nepal
- Support for children with severe neurological illnesses in Kerala, India
- Community-based palliative care in Bangladesh
- Perinatal Palliative Care Services in Hyderabad, India
- Pain management for children with cancer in Manipal, India
A Celebration of Commitment and Impact
The graduation ceremony embodied the programme’s core value of “Encouraging the Heart.” Scholars were honored for their dedication to advancing paediatric palliative care, serving as an inspiration for future leaders.
Dr. P G Hariprasad from India shared his transformative experience: “When I joined the programme, my goal was to start a palliative care service in my hospital. However, with global exposure, high-quality training, and unwavering support, I learned to think big and act proactively. My mission is now to establish Paediatric Palliative Care in Kerala as a model for other states and beyond. I highly recommend this programme to anyone passionate about palliative care worldwide.”
As the 2024 graduates continue their leadership journeys, their commitment ensures a lasting impact, paving the way for a future where every child in need has access to compassionate, high-quality palliative care.
