The World Health Organization (WHO) Working Group on Palliative Care has introduced an innovative digital initiative utilising the ECHO Model to enhance global collaboration in palliative care. Officially launched on March 5, 2025, this programme will facilitate knowledge exchange and promote best practices for the integration of palliative care into health systems worldwide.
The ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Model connects healthcare professionals globally in virtual communities of practice to support contextualised implementation of best-practice care through mentorship and guided practice. Using Project ECHO’s online learning management platform, iECHO.org, this programme includes a series of monthly online sessions focused on developing training materials and evaluation tools and resources to strengthen health systems in palliative care. With the use of digital innovation, this programme provides a forum for international collaboration while eliminating the need for travel to complete this important work.
The programme will explore challenges in policy formulation, workforce training, programme sustainability, legal frameworks, and essential medicines. The ECHO programme will leverage country specific case examples to showcase national and regional initiatives where palliative care has been effectively implemented. This programme aims to develop a global knowledge-sharing network focusing on assessment tools, health policy and financing, legal frameworks, education, and access to essential medicines and services.
The WHO Palliative Care ECHO is made possible through the support of the University of New Mexico Health Science Center’s Project ECHO, a WHO Collaborating Centre which provides essential support in programme coordination, technical expertise, and knowledge-sharing facilitation.
A dedicated team from Project ECHO supports the programme’s implementation, including Clayton Richards, Chris Piromalli, and Mark Stoltenberg.
The launch of the WHO Palliative Care ECHO marks a significant milestone in global health collaboration. By fostering digital knowledge exchange, capacity building, and palliative care integration, this initiative aims to transform palliative care accessibility and sustainability worldwide.
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“There has been so much work from global leaders to build tools and frameworks for integrating palliative care into health systems. However, in my experience, there is often a large gap between these resources and the country and regional leaders who need them. This innovative programme will help close the gap and connect leaders from around the world with the resources and expertise they need to achieve the 2014 World Health Assembly mandate to provide universal access to palliative care to all.” Dr Mark Stoltenberg
Is there a link to more information about signing up for this? I’m interested in (1) becoming a member (or least being aware and supportive of ECHO) and (2) helping to promote this through our national newsletter, Hospice & Palliative Care Today – http://www.hospicepalliativecaretoday.com. Our national daily newsletter goes to about 2,000 USA executive leaders. We garner relevant headlines, brief summary, and guide readers to the original source–with the purpose of connecting readers to the original source.