WHO/Europe has designated the Federal Research and Practical Center for Palliative Medical Care (Sechenov University) in Moscow as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Training in Palliative Care. This designation marks a significant step in advancing access to quality, compassionate care for people facing serious health-related suffering across the WHO European Region.
As a WHO collaborating centre, the Department will work with WHO/Europe to support the implementation of WHO’s Second European Programme of Work 2026–2030, with a focus on strengthening person-centred, integrated and equitable palliative care services.
WHO sees palliative care as a key element of efforts to achieve universal health coverage. The Centre will work with WHO to ensure that people living with serious illnesses and their families receive the support and dignity they deserve.
Supporting national reforms and global collaboration
The designation builds on the momentum of the Russian Federation’s State Programme “Development of the health system”, which includes actions for the development of a system for the provision of palliative medical care.
The Centre will contribute to regional efforts in this area by:
- developing and disseminating clinical guidelines for pain and symptom management;
- supporting the integration of palliative care into medical and nursing education;
- promoting public and professional awareness of palliative care;
- strengthening research and data collection to inform policy; and
- fostering international knowledge exchange and capacity-building in collaboration with other WHO partners.
A regional priority
Palliative care is a growing priority across the Region. According to WHO, each year more than 4.4 million people in the Region are estimated to need palliative care – a number that is expected to rise due to ageing populations and the increasing prevalence of noncommunicable diseases.
Yet many still lack access to basic services and pain relief. Barriers include limited resources, a lack of trained professionals, issues with access to essential medicines and a lack of understanding of what palliative care is. By partnering with academic institutions, such as Sechenov Medical University, WHO aims to strengthen health systems’ capacity to respond to these challenges with compassion, evidence and innovation.
“We are honoured to join the WHO network of collaborating centres,” said Dr Diana Nevzorova, Head of the Federal Research and Practice Center for Palliative Care at Sechenov University. “Our goal is to contribute to a future where palliative care is not the exception but the norm – accessible to all who need it, when they need it, wherever they live.”