In October, as we mark World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, we were deeply honoured to be invited to participate in the 9th International Public Health Palliative Care Conference (PHPCI 2026) held in Taiwan. The conference convened over 600 experts, scholars, healthcare professionals, researchers, and community practitioners from 27 countries and regions to explore the latest developments in Public Health Palliative Care and Compassionate Communities.
Our organisation was privileged to share Hong Kong’s experience in promoting Namaste Care and Spiritual End-of-Life care support across several sessions, including chairing and delivering presentations at international symposia, workshop as well as poster.
Among these, our Superintendent, Vennus Ho, collaborated with Art Therapist, Professor Ming-Fu Wu (Taiwan), Music Therapist, Tammy Lin (Singapore), Counselor Phoebe Clausen-Sternwald (UK) and Dance Movement Therapist Phoebe Chung (HK), featured in the symposium “The Comma (,): the space the caregivers who mourn or experience losses share when language lacks but breath returns.” The panel explored how bereaved individuals can find connection, meaning and support through creative arts therapies/arts-based counseling amidst loss.
Simultaneously, we also collaborated closely with Namaste Care International, Hospice Foundation of Taiwan, and the Heart Lotus Palliative Care Ward at Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Vennus (Namaste Care Champion for Hong Kong), alongside our Occupational Therapist, Tammy Chau, Head Nurse of Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Emily Chiang (Namaste Care Champion for Taiwan), and Prof. Martin Ang (Namaste Care Champion for Singapore), participated in the symposium “The Role of Asian Cultural Norms and Multicultural Practices in Implementing Namaste Care,” sharing practical insights on delivering Namaste Care within Asian cultural frameworks.
In addition, our Namaste Care team led a pre-conference workshop, offering participants immersive, hands-on experience in the application and development of Namaste Care across hospital, home, and residential care settings. This fostered vibrant exchanges with global peers on person-centered care that attends to spiritual and sensory needs.
During the conference, we presented two poster presentations titled “The Last Page : Community-Based Namaste Care delivered by Compassionate Connectors for older adults with terminal illness in Hong Kong ” and “The LasTVoice: Youth-led Documentary Videography for compassionate dialogue with families and older adults with terminal illness.” These showcased our practical community support for older adults and caregivers as well as reflections on ageing and death through the lens of youth.
Participating alongside global colleagues during World Hospice and Palliative Care Month to advance community-based and person-centered public health, end-of-life care, and grief support has been immensely meaningful. Looking ahead, we will remain dedicated to providing appropriate support, companionship, and care to individuals navigating illness, aging, death, and bereavement, to build a warmer and more compassionate community.
