ORGANISERS
The Malaysian Hospice & Palliative Care Council (MHPCC)
The origins of the Malaysian Hospice & Palliative Care Council, formerly known as Malaysian Hospice Council (MHC), can be traced back to 1996 when the Hospice at Home Programme in Penang organized a two-day scientific meeting. Seven representatives from various hospice services participated in this event. During this gathering, a visionary idea emerged: the need for an overarching organization that would serve as the collective voice of the hospice community in Malaysia. Consequently, a committee was established and a constitution was drafted to formalize this mission.
The inaugural general meeting took place in Genting in October 1998, graciously hosted by Hospice Klang. This event was accompanied by a scientific meeting, setting the stage for what would become a biennial tradition of meetings held at various locations, hosted by different member organizations.
In February 2023, an extraordinary general meeting was convened, and the voting members unanimously agreed to rename the organization The Malaysian Hospice & Palliative Care Council (MHPCC).
Since its inception in 1998 with 10 founding organizations, MHPCC has expanded to encompass 27 organizational members and 43 individual members. Over the span of 25 years, the council has continued to be the unified voice for the hospice and palliative care movement in Malaysia. Its primary mission is to advance the principles of hospice and palliative care, providing support to patients and their families facing progressive illnesses that is not amendable for curative treatment.
MHPCC’s objectives include facilitating a national platform for the exchange of ideas and information; advocating for the significance of hospice and palliative care through educational initiatives and community awareness programmes; and fostering collaboration with various stakeholders in society.
The National Cancer Society of Malaysia Sarawak Branch (NCSMSB)
The National Cancer Society of Malaysia (NCSM) is a charitable non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1966. The Sarawak Branch of NCSM was formed in 1986. The objective is to provide education and raise public awareness on cancer, as well as to provide care and support for cancer patients.
Since its inception, NCSMSB has been providing palliative care at the home of cancer patients, with the help of volunteers and nurses, whenever available. This service was consolidated in 2016, with the engagement of a team of full time nursing staff and volunteer doctors. They work in collaboration with the Palliative Care Unit and the Radiotherapy and Oncology Department of the Sarawak General Hospital. The Society also works in partnership with Two Tree Lodge Hospice Kuching, to care for many palliative care patients in and around the city. This is the first time that NCSMSB is organizing the Congress. It is also the first time that the Congress is being held in Sarawak.