Palliative care is specialised medical care that provides physical, emotional, and spiritual support for people living with chronic conditions or serious illnesses by relieving symptoms and stress.

According to the Association, the strategic plan will serve as a “working document” to guide the implementation of planned activities.

The call was made in Accra on Friday during the launch of “October for Palliative Care 2025” to educate Ghanaians about the need for palliative care services.

Established in 2006, the GPCA aims to advance and advocate for palliative care across the country to improve the quality of life for patients with life-threatening diseases and their families.

The Secretary of GPCA, Ms Winnifred Otoo, who made the appeal, also urged the government to complete unfinished medical hospices, particularly the Monsignor Bobby Benson Hospice in Koforidua.

She explained that completing the hospice would allow for the allocation of human resources and demonstrate Ghana’s commitment to quality palliative care.

“We are pleading with the government to immediately complete the Monsignor Bobby Benson Hospice located in Koforidua. This is the first hospice in Ghana, and it has not been completed due to lack of resources,” she said.

“The government should help us complete this so we can allocate human resources there to prove to the world that Ghana is committed to ensuring quality palliative care services to its citizens.”

The Chair of Research at the GPCA, Dr (Mrs) Bisi Adewale Assani, highlighted the importance of early palliative care, stressing that it can significantly improve the quality of life for patients and their families.

“It’s always better to start early from the time of diagnosis,” she said, citing examples of patients who have benefited and lived with their families for over a decade.

Dr (Mrs) Assani also announced that Ghana will host the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) Conference in 2028, marking a major milestone for the country and the region.

For his part, Technical Coordinator at the Ministry of Health, Dr Hafiz Tahil, who represented the Minister of Health, Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to promoting palliative care.

He said efforts have been made to integrate palliative care issues into national health policies.

“The Ministry of Health will continue to work closely with the Ghana Palliative Care Association to push the agenda to promote palliative care in Ghana,” he assured.

He also commended the Association for its dedication and commitment to advancing palliative care in the country.