A National Conversation on Pediatric Palliative Care in the Philippines

 

Authors: Maria Liza T. Naranjo, MD

 

Last April 30, 2026, around 8,000 Filipino pediatricians gathered for the 63rd Annual Convention of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS), where Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) was featured in the prestigious Dr. Perla D. Santos-Ocampo Memorial Lecture. For many in attendance, it was another scientific session within a national convention. For those involved in palliative care, however, the moment carried deeper significance. It reflected how conversations about suffering, quality of life, communication, and compassionate care are increasingly becoming part of mainstream pediatric practice in the Philippines.

The lecture, titled “The Journey of Pediatric Palliative Care in the Philippines: From Beginning and Beyond,” explored the growth of PPC in the country while challenging long-held assumptions about the field. One of its central messages was that palliative care is not about choosing between cure and comfort. Rather, it is an approach that seeks to recognize and respond to suffering wherever it exists, accompanying children and families throughout the illness journey alongside disease-directed treatment.

While pediatric practice is often centered on diagnosis, treatment, and cure, children living with serious illness and their families frequently face emotional, social, spiritual, and practical challenges that medicine alone cannot fully address. Pediatric palliative care helps bridge this gap by promoting holistic, family-centered care that supports quality of life, communication, and compassionate decision-making throughout the course of illness.

The inclusion of PPC in one of the country’s most respected pediatric lecture platforms represents more than growing awareness of a specialty. It signals a broader shift within the profession toward recognizing that compassionate, family-centered care is an essential part of good pediatric practice. This milestone reflects the collective efforts of clinicians, hospitals, professional societies, educators, advocates, and international partners who have worked together over many years to strengthen pediatric palliative care services, education, and advocacy throughout the Philippines. What was once a relatively unfamiliar concept is increasingly becoming part of national discussions on how best to care for children living with serious illness.

 

 

The momentum continues to grow. In July 2026, the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) is set to launch the country’s first local Pediatric Palliative Care Fellowship Training Program, creating a new pathway for developing future leaders in the field. Educational initiatives are likewise expanding, with numerous invitations for postgraduate conferences, institutional learning sessions, and collaborative programs following the PPS convention. The growing interest will also help shape preparations for the 3rd Pediatric Palliative Care Symposium, scheduled for July 2027, which aims to further strengthen learning, collaboration, and advocacy among healthcare professionals caring for children with serious illness.

 

 

Perhaps the most encouraging outcome of the memorial lecture was the response that followed. Conversations about collaboration, education, and service development emerged from pediatricians and institutions interested in strengthening PPC within their own settings. These discussions suggest that pediatric palliative care is no longer confined to a small group of advocates but is increasingly becoming a shared responsibility across the pediatric community.

 

 

The journey of pediatric palliative care in the Philippines is still unfolding. Yet the inclusion of PPC in a national platform attended by thousands of pediatricians serves as a powerful reminder that progress begins when a profession broadens its understanding of care—not only curing disease, but also relieving suffering.

As the field continues to evolve, the hope is that every child living with a serious illness, and every family walking alongside them, will have access to the compassionate, holistic support they deserve.