title: The Catalonia WHO Demonstration Project of Palliative Care: Results at 25 Years (1990-2015).
abstract: In 2015, the World Health Organization (WHO) Demonstration Project on Palliative Care in Catalonia (Spain) celebrated its 25th anniversary. The present report describes the achievements and progress made through this project. Numerous innovations have been made with regard to the palliative care (PC) model, organization, and policy. As the concept of PC has expanded to include individuals with advanced chronic conditions, new needs in diverse domains have been identified. The WHO resolution on "Strengthening of palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course," together with other related WHO initiatives, support the development of a person-centered integrated care PC model with universal coverage. The Catalan Department of Health, together with key institutions, developed a new program in the year 2011 to promote comprehensive and integrated PC approach strategies for individuals with advanced chronic conditions. The program included epidemiologic research to describe the population with progressive and life-limiting illnesses. One key outcome was the development of a specific tool (NECPAL CCOMS-ICO(©)) to identify individuals in the community in need of PC. Other innovations to emerge from this project to improve PC provision include the development of the essential needs approach and integrated models across care settings. Several educational and research programs have been undertaken to complement the process. These results illustrate how a PC program can respond and adapt to emerging needs and demands. The success of the PC approach described here supports more widespread adoption by other key care programs, particularly chronic care programs.
authors.affiliation: The Qualy Observatory/WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care Public Health Programmes, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain; Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: xgomez.whocc@iconcologia.net.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gómez-Batiste
authors.affiliation: Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain; Chronic Care Program, Department of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Blay
authors.affiliation: The Qualy Observatory/WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care Public Health Programmes, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain; Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martínez-Muñoz
authors.affiliation: The Qualy Observatory/WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care Public Health Programmes, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain; Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lasmarías
authors.affiliation: Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain; Primary Care Services, District of Osona (Barcelona), ICS Catalunya Central, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vila
authors.affiliation: The Qualy Observatory/WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care Public Health Programmes, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Barcelona, Spain; Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinosa
authors.affiliation: Chair of Palliative Care, University of Vic, Barcelona, Spain; Primary Care Services, District of Osona (Barcelona), ICS Catalunya Central, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Socio-Health Plan, Department of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Pau
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ferrin
authors.affiliation: Socio-Health Plan, Department of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bullich
authors.affiliation: Planning Department, Department of Health, Government of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Constante
authors.affiliation: Department of Service Delivery and Safety, WHO Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Ed
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kelley
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D015340:Epidemiologic Research Design; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods; D013030:Spain; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Palliative care; WHO Demonstration Projects; chronic care; planning; public health policies