Dear distinguished guests, experts, partners, and colleagues in palliative care from around the world, greetings to you all.
On behalf of the Hospice Foundation of Taiwan and the Organizing Committee of the 9th PHPCI Conference, it is with great pleasure, sincerity, and honor that I warmly welcome you to this historic gathering.
The year 2026 marks a significant milestone for Taiwan. This year, the Hospice Foundation of Taiwan enters its 36th year of advancing hospice and palliative care. Over the past three decades, Taiwan has established a strong and enduring foundation in palliative care policy and legislation. From the implementation of the Hospice Palliative Care Act to the enactment of the Patient Right to Autonomy Act, we have built a comprehensive legal framework to safeguard dignity and autonomy of individuals at the end of life.
Yet as we confront the profound challenges of a super-aged society, we recognize that the efforts of the healthcare system alone are no longer sufficient to meet the growing demands of end-of-life care. The development of community-based initiatives, the integration of palliative care within long-term care facilities, and the cultivation of local support systems all remind us of the important mission still before us.
This year also marks a historic moment as PHPCI comes to Asia for the first time, with Taiwan honored to serve as the host country. It signifies a critical shift in our era: palliative care must move beyond the boundaries of terminal clinical care and be elevated to the level of national public health.
The core mission of this conference is to promote cross-sector integration and practical policy implementation. Together, we will explore how palliative care principles can be embedded within community public health systems, how Compassionate Communities can become a vital model for social governance, and how strengthening death literacy can empower individuals in advance care planning and decision-making. This is not only a healthcare issue, but also a reflection of social resilience and the values of human dignity and human rights.
In Tamsui, in northern Taiwan — a place rich in history and humanistic spirit — we look forward to meaning dialogue and collaboration with palliative care leaders from around the world. Together, we hope to explore how Taiwan’s legislative experience and international public health models can be integrated and transformed into policy frameworks for Asia and the global community.
Thank you for joining us in Taiwan and for partnering together to move beyond the traditional boundaries of healthcare. Together, we can build a new vision of compassionate end-of-life care—one that is people-centered, policy-driven, and community-based.
We sincerely look forward to meeting you, exchanging ideas, and shaping the future together.
Shou-Chuan Shih
Chair of the 9th PHPCI Conference
Chairman, Hospice Foundation of Taiwan