Expanding Pediatric Palliative Care Access in Bangladesh
Authors: Rizwana Hussain, Dr Fyeza Hasan, Dr Megan Doherty, Dr Spandana Rayala
In Bangladesh, the need for pediatric palliative care (PPC) is urgent, yet access remains limited. Despite high demand, PPC services are primarily concentrated in the capital, Dhaka, leaving many regions underserved. A 2020 study noted that only a small fraction of children requiring palliative care received it, highlighting the critical need for expansion and integration of PPC into the national healthcare system.
To address this gap, a collaborative initiative was launched by The SickKids Centre for Global Child Health, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, and Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration (Canada). This online learning program was designed to focus on Khulna, Sylhet, Rangpur and Dhaka connecting healthcare professionals from medical colleges with national and international palliative care experts. The course began on August 19, 2024, and concluded on May 5, 2025, with approximately 50 participants attending sessions once a month.
The nine-month training program used the Project ECHO model and included expert lectures and participant-led case discussions. The goal was to equip healthcare professionals to address the comprehensive needs of children with life-limiting illnesses and their families physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. This course served to build a community of practice after the 6 week ECHO course done prior, and served to synergize the engaging in-person workshop in April 2025. This initiative was recently featured in an eHospice article. https://ehospice.com/inter_childrens_posts/using-technology-to-connect-health-care-providers-with-experts-in-bangladesh/
The course featured a diverse and experienced faculty from Bangladesh, Canada, and India, fostering strong connections among healthcare professionals and providing ongoing mentorship throughout the program.
Key course topics included:
- Self-compassion and caring for children
- Difficult communication
- Assessment of needs in PPC
- Pain management
- Palliative care in the home
- Neonatal and perinatal palliative care
- Palliative care for children with cerebral palsy
- Palliative care for children with cardiac disease
- End-of-life care
Upon successful completion of the course, participants were awarded official certificates marking a significant milestone in the development of pediatric palliative care in Bangladesh. This initiative represented a major stride toward establishing a more inclusive and compassionate healthcare system for children across the country.
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