On 14 August 2026, around 30 stakeholders, including physicians, nurses, researchers, community representatives, caregivers, and partners from Hanoi, Hue, and Ho Chi Minh City, gathered for the first scientific meeting on pediatric palliative care in Vietnam. The meeting created a shared space to discuss the needs of children with serious illnesses and their families, while beginning a broader conversation about how pediatric palliative care can be strengthened in Vietnam.
Children living with serious illnesses may experience pain and other distressing symptoms, as well as psychological, social, and emotional challenges that affect both them and their families. Pediatric palliative care aims to address these needs alongside treatment of the underlying illness, supporting quality of life throughout the course of a serious illness. However, providing comprehensive pediatric palliative care remains challenging within a healthcare system facing high patient demand and limited human resources. In addition, the common perception that palliative care is mainly, or only, for the end of life may make some families hesitant to accept palliative care when it is offered. These challenges highlight the need to strengthen understanding of pediatric palliative care, develop appropriate services, and build greater capacity among healthcare professionals and communities.
The meeting brought clinical practice, research, and strategic planning together within a single day. The morning session focused on the current practice and development of pediatric palliative care in Vietnam. Speakers discussed its integration into the healthcare system, pain management, communication, psychological care, community-based palliative care, and the role of community networks. By bringing together experiences from different settings and insights from current practice and research, the session offered a shared perspective on the progress of pediatric palliative care in Vietnam and the work that still lies ahead.
In the afternoon, the meeting shifted from understanding current practice to building future capacity and strategic planning. Professor Michelle Hermiston, MD,
PhD, led a session on how to develop rigorous research from clinical questions. Participants then worked in small groups to develop and discuss their research proposals. They then joined an interactive prioritisation exercise led by Dr. Huyen Bui, based on the World Health Organization report, Assessing the Development of Palliative Care Worldwide: A Set of Actionable Indicators.
Participants were divided into four groups. Each group discussed the indicators and each participant selected three prioritized indicators among six pillars in Palliative Care development: Empower People and Communities, Health Policies, Research, Education and Training, Use of Essential Medicines, and Provision of Palliative Care. The indicator on the existence of groups dedicated to promoting the rights of people in need of palliative care, their caregivers, and disease survivors received the strongest support, with 86.4% of voters selecting it. The existence of national congresses or scientific meetings specifically related to palliative care and the focus on peer-reviewed research followed, with 63.6% and 45.5% of voters selecting them, respectively.
The lively discussions reflected the participants’ commitment to the field, as well as the diversity of their experiences. These priorities reflected a shared desire to strengthen connections among existing groups, understand one another’s work, and expand opportunities for further training and resource sharing. These priorities will help shape the next steps, including the proposed action plan and a second scientific meeting planned for August 2027.
The first scientific meeting on pediatric palliative care marked an important step towards a new chapter for the field in Vietnam. The three priorities identified — community empowerment, annual scientific meetings, and research — offer a clear direction for future work. By bringing people from different fields together around a common purpose, the meeting laid an important foundation for the continued development of pediatric palliative care in Vietnam.
Authors:
Truong Vinh Trong
Vo Thanh Long, MD, PhD Candidate
Bui Thi Thanh Huyen, MD, MSC
Note about the Authors:
Truong Vinh Trong is a pre-med student in the University of Maryland, who has contributed in writing the first draft.
Dr. Vo Thanh Long is the Executive Director of Spring Hospice in Vietnam
Dr. Bui Thi Thanh Huyen (Corresponding author) is the Former Associate Program Director of the Pediatrics Residency Program at VinUniversity. Dr. Huyen can be reached at huyenbui@uef.fi.
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