The Cicely Saunders Institute of Palliative Care, Policy & Rehabilitation at King’s College London has been redesignated as a WHO collaborating centre by WHO/Europe. The collaboration will focus on creating and refining evidence-based, equitable models of integrated palliative care and rehabilitation for adults and children with life-limiting illness. The centre’s work will directly support ongoing WHO initiatives in the WHO European Region, contributing to the advancement of integrated care systems.
“We are delighted and proud to be a collaborating centre and look forward to contributing to global evidence and policy in palliative care,” said Professor Richard Harding, Executive Dean, Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery & Palliative Care, King’s College London at the Cicely Saunders Institute, about the recent renewal of the collaborating centre status.
The centre will work closely with WHO staff across its European and Eastern Mediterranean regional offices, as well as headquarters in Geneva.
“I’m very pleased to continue working with the team at King’s College London,” said Dr Julie Ling, Technical Officer, WHO/Europe. “Having access to their broad range of palliative care expertise and steadfast support is invaluable for advancing our shared goals of integrating palliative care into health systems across the regions.”
This partnership underscores a shared commitment to strengthening person-centred health services and improving the quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses and their families, worldwide.
The Second European Programme of Work, 2026–2030 (EPW2), the European Region’s health compass, prioritizes supporting countries to provide the fit-for-purpose infrastructure and full continuum of care – from prevention and health promotion to rehabilitation, long-term care and palliative care – in shaping health systems of the future.