Overview
The 15th Malaysian Hospice Council Congress (MHCC) was successfully held from the 25th to 27th July 2024 at Kingwood Hotel, Sibu, Sarawak. Themed "Strengthening Connections and Collaborations in Palliative Care," the congress brought together over 600 healthcare professionals, volunteers, and individuals passionate about palliative care from across Malaysia and beyond.
Based on registration data, there were 615 delegates
578 delegates from Malaysia
37 international delegates from USA, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, India, Myanmar, UAE, Indonesia and Pakistan
Key Objectives
The congress aimed to:
Provide a platform for knowledge sharing and updates on the latest advancements in hospice and palliative care.
Foster collaboration and networking among healthcare professionals and organizations involved in palliative care.
Enhance the understanding and awareness of palliative care services among the public.
Event Highlights
Inaugural Day: The congress commenced with a warm welcoming address by the organizing chairman, Dr. Lam Chin Chyou (The National Cancer Society Malaysia, Sarawak Branch), followed by a keynote speech by Dr. Frank Ferris from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). Dr. Richard Lim Boon Leong (Head of Subspecialty for Palliative Medicine in Ministry of Health Malaysia) delivered the first plenary session. The day also featured pre-conference workshops on various aspects of palliative care. Later in the evening, at the gala dinner, the congress was officially launched by the Deputy Premier of Sarawak, Datuk Amar Prof. Dr. Sim Kui Hian, who also pledged that the Sarawak government will strive to make palliative care a mainstream service.
Plenary Sessions: Renowned professionals in the field delivered insightful presentations on topics such as community palliative care, paediatric palliative care, palliative care nursing, and integrating palliative care services. We featured international experts including Dr. M.R. Rajagopal from Pallium India, Assoc. Prof. Jaclyn Yoong from Monash Health Services and SR Geraldine Tan (Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Home, Singapore) as well as local experts Dr. Ednin Hamzah (CEO of Hospis Malaysia and Former Chair of the Asia Pacific Hospice Network – APHN) and Dr. Mary Cardosa (Consultant Pain Physician and President-Elect of the International Association for the Study of Pain – IASP).
Highlight: We were also honoured to have Datuk Seri Dr T. Devaraj, the founding chairperson of our council (MHPCC) joining us for the congress. He delivered the closing plenary talk, entitled “Hospice and Palliative Care - Past, Present and Future” illustrating the journey taken. To celebrate his achievements and dedication over the many decades, Datuk Seri Dr T. Devaraj became the first inductee to the MHPCC Wall of Honour, a recognition award that was launched during the Congress Gala Dinner that will continue to acknowledge the contributions of important figures advancing palliative care in Malaysia.
Symposia and Parallel Sessions: A diverse range of topics were covered in these sessions, catering to the interests of different healthcare professionals and providing opportunities for in-depth discussions.
Poster and Oral Presentations: Young researchers and professionals showcased their work through poster and oral presentations, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation.
The winners of the Oral Research Presentations were:
Dr Lihini Wijeyaratne
University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
“What is a Good Death in South Asia? A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis”
2. Dr Iris Chung
National Cancer Institute, Putrajaya
“Exploring the Experiences and End-of-life Care Preferences of Malaysian Patients with Advanced Cancer.”
3. Dr Siti Hamidah Binti Abdullah
Hospital Queen Elizabeth, K.Kinabalu, Sabah
“Factors Leading to High Caregiver Burden in Patients with Terminal Illnesses: a Cross Sectional Study”
The winners of the Poster Research Presentations were:
Dr Leong Yoke Yeng
Sarawak General Hospital, Kuching, Sarawak
“Quality Improvement Project on Integrated Palliative Care in Heart Failure Service in Oxford University Hospital”
2. Dr Norashikin Amran
Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Hospital Selayang, Selangor
“Utilising Integrated Palliative Care Outcome Scale (IPOS) to Assess Symptom Burden Among Patients in a Palliative Care Service in Malaysia.”
3. Dr Lee Pei Shin
Hospital Selayang, Selangor
“4-Year Trend and Characteristics of Terminal Discharge in a Palliative Care Unit: A Retrospective Study”
We would also like to acknowledge everyone who had submitted abstracts for our congress and had their work presented during the Free Paper Symposium and poster displays. Many have learned from your efforts and hopefully this may inspire others to generate research ideas and quality improvement projects to be shared at future conferences.
Networking Opportunities: The congress provided ample opportunities for attendees to connect with colleagues, share experiences, and build partnerships along the lines of the meeting theme.
We would also like to thank Business Events Sarawak and the following sponsors and exhibitors who were also present during the congress. Your involvement and continuous support have been instrumental for the success of the event:
Subang Jaya Medical Centre
Borneo Medical Centre
MBD marketing
Rejang Medical Centre
Asia Pacific Hospice Network (APHN)
Karuna Sarawak
The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (HQ)
Sarawak Tourism Board
Snow Marketing Sdn Bhd
Mary Kay (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Sarawak Biodiversity Center 1
Malaysian Association of Paediatric Palliative Care (MAPPAC)
SEGi University
Palliative Care Sibu
Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching
Society for Cancer Advocacy and Awareness Kuching (SCAN)
Agape Centre Sibu
The National Cancer Society of Malaysia Sarawak Branch
Outcomes and Impact
The 15th MHCC was a resounding success, achieving its objectives of knowledge dissemination, collaboration, and awareness building. The event generated significant interest and enthusiasm among participants, with positive feedback received on the quality of the program, speakers, and networking opportunities.
The congress is expected to have a lasting impact on palliative care in Malaysia by:
Strengthening the capacity of healthcare professionals to provide high-quality palliative care.
Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and coordination of care.
Increasing public awareness of the importance of palliative care.
Recommendations
To build upon the success of this congress, the following recommendations are made:
Continue to prioritize the theme of collaboration and networking in future events.
Increase the focus on community-based palliative care and integration with primary care.
Expand the reach of the congress to include a wider range of stakeholders, such as policymakers and the general public.
Conclusion
The 15th Malaysian Hospice Council Congress served as a catalyst for progress in palliative care in Malaysia. By bringing together experts, practitioners, and advocates, the event contributed to strengthening the palliative care landscape in the country. The MHPCC extend our deepest thanks to the organizing team for the outstanding management, behind the scenes work, and most especially, for extending the best of Sarwakian hospitality to all. We look forward to our next meeting.
For your information, our colleagues in Sarawak will be hosting the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Conference - APHC 2025 in Kuching with the theme "Embracing Diversity, Empowering Communities". Explore research, share best practices, and collaborate with peers from across the region. Don't miss this opportunity to contribute to the future of hospice and palliative care!
Date: 23 - 26 April 2025
Location: BCCK, Kuching, Sarawak
Visit https://www.aphc2025.com/ for more details and registration.
Together, let's shape the future of compassionate care!
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