Singapore’s Lien Foundation and Tan Tock Seng Hospital have launched the Lien Collaborative for Palliative Care in Beijing, a three-year initiative designed to enhance palliative care capabilities in the Chinese capital. This programme seeks to address the challenges posed by ageing populations and the increasing demand for patient-centred care in both countries.
The initiative aims to train more than 1,000 Chinese healthcare professionals and improve palliative care delivery across at least eight institutions in Beijing. It supports China’s national efforts to expand palliative care by tackling issues such as the shortage of trained specialists and the lack of public awareness.
Key components of the programme include the development of online teaching modules for medical professionals, biannual Train-the-Trainer workshops, and fortnightly Online Complex Case Conferences. Additionally, a four-week Clinical Observership Programme in Singapore will offer selected Chinese doctors clinical training and exposure to Singapore’s palliative care ecosystem. The programme will also produce public advocacy videos to encourage end-of-life discussions.
Participating institutions in Beijing include Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Haidian Hospital, and Sereniturn Palliative Care. These institutions will collaborate to develop treatment protocols and practice guidelines tailored for China.
The initiative also provides an opportunity for Singaporean doctors to learn from Chinese experts about Traditional Chinese Medicine and humanistic care models for end-of-life treatment. This exchange of knowledge is expected to foster long-term policy and ecosystem reform in palliative care.
