It focused on starting and scaling up services in developing countries in Asia.
This project involves
The Lien Foundation champions palliative care which is a counter discipline that takes suffering seriously as a problem to be tackled. It is good medicine and embodies the principles and practices of a good clinician. We will continue to expand and help build a vibrant fraternity, supporting its leaders to strengthen the soul of the healthcare system, and transform the experience of the seriously ill and their families
Lien Collab envisions a world where access to quality palliative care services is a basic human right for all individuals and communities facing life-limiting conditions in the Asia. It should be fully integrated into the mainstream healthcare system so that individuals and families receive the care and support they need to live with dignity and comfort.
“In these developing countries, they say, ‘We’ve got nothing. How can we ever reach the development that you’ve got in Singapore?’ I can say to them we started with nothing. When I started work in this area [in Singapore], our health system was not interested in end of life care. We had no services… but you persevere and we’re here to help in whatever way.”
Lien Collab’s mission is to facilitate, support, advocate and influence the development of palliative care services and leadership, so as to build capacity in countries with limited services and lead the transformation of the palliative care landscape in the region.
We partner countries with little or no access to palliative care services to:
Through our work, most countries are able to kickstart and expand their palliative care services within a year.
To kickstart palliative care services in a country, we:
Our 6-week course that is usually run over three years trains volunteers to become master trainers in palliative care services. The curriculum comprises interactive case-based learning, ward visits, training with patients and role play.
Through engaging the country’s health ministry, drug regulator as well as international pharmaceutical manufacturers, we find ways to make pain medications more accessible and affordable.
To enhance the capabilities of palliative care clinicians in a country, we send them on attachments to learn from established institutions in the Asia Pacific, including in Singapore and Australia.
Since Lien Collab launched its first programme in Myanmar in 2013, we have trained over 500 participants in across 150 institutions across Asia. Our programmes have reached Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Sarawak, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. We are currently exploring opportunities in the Philippines too.
The Lien Collaborative is overseen by a committee comprising representatives from the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network and Lien Foundation. The respective country leads are as follows:
Dr Sushma Bhatnagar
Dr Shirlynn Ho
Dr Yuen Kwok Keung
Dr Sushma Bhatnagar
and Dr Shirlynn Ho
Dr Srivieng Pairojkul
Dr Ramaswamy Akhileswaran
A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal
and Dr Patricia Neo
Dr Sylvia McCarthy
A/Prof Ghauri Aggarwal
Dr Ednin Hamzah
Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care (Lien Collab) draws on philanthropy, health institutions, palliative care service providers, individuals and more to strengthen leadership and capacity in bringing pain relief to all.
