Six out of every 10 people who die around the world would benefit from palliative care, yet the majority of them do not receive it.
In Ireland, it is estimated that almost one-third of those who die every year need access to such care, yet approximately 50 per cent of these do not receive it.
The importance of hospice and palliative care - which aims to give the best quality of care at the end of life - will be highlighted around the world on Saturday at the first World Hospice and Palliative Care day.
"World Hospice Day offers an opportunity to highlight issues of importance to the development of hospice care, especially in poorer regions," said Pat Cox, MEP and former president of the European Parliament.
One of the highest profile events planned for Saturday is a series of fundraising concerts worldwide organised by Voices for Hospices, an international charity.
"We need to create a context in which dying, death and bereavement can be developed as a matter of public concern and where the concept of 'a good death' is a valid aspect of social and public policy," according to Mr Cox.
In Ireland, choirs will sing outside Tesco stores to raise funds for the Irish Hospice Foundation. Exhibitions on hospice care will also be mounted in public libraries.
Meanwhile, an all-Ireland directory on specialist palliative care services, published by the Irish Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), was launched by the Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney yesterday.
"Through the directory, we want to promote the key principles of palliative care which include a focus on quality of life and care that encompasses both the dying person and those who matter to that person and open and sensitive communication," said Pat Quinlan, chairman of the IAPC.
Commenting on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day, Mr Quinlan said: "Ireland has made considerable progress in its development of hospice palliative care services over the last 20 years, but much work remains to be done."
He also welcomed the forthcoming establishment of a National Council for Palliative Care.
The all-Ireland directory on specialist palliative care services will be distributed to healthcare professionals in the coming weeks.
See also www.voicesforhospices.org and www.worldday.org
