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.
Our 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.
The Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care 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 Pacific region.
We envision a future where Palliative Care is fully integrated into the mainstream healthcare system and where individuals and families receive the care and support they need to live with dignity and comfort. Through our commitment to collaboration, philanthropy, education, and advocacy, we aim to be a leader in transforming the Palliative Care landscape in the Asia Pacific region.
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.
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 was co-developed by the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) and the Lien Foundation in 2012 under the direction of the late Professor Cynthia Goh. The pioneer of palliative care in Singapore championed universal access to such services, and believed quality palliative care training could help countries build capacity and capabilities.
In 2013, Lien Collab launched our first programme when a team of 5 palliative care specialists from Singapore and Australia travelled to Myanmar to teach 27 participants from 11 hospitals across the country. Over the decade, Lien Collab has expanded to train over 500 participants in across 150 institutions across countries in Asia, including Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Malaysia, Sarawak, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. We are also exploring opportunities in the Philippines.
APHN Secretariat
c/o Division of Supportive & Palliative Care National Cancer Centre Singapore
30 Hospital Boulevard
Singapore 168583
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.
