German Palliative Foundation

The German Palliative Foundation (Deutsche PalliativStiftung, DPS) is a non-profit foundation based in Fulda, Germany, dedicated to improving hospice work and palliative care for seriously ill and dying people across the country. It was established on 8 May 2010 by eight founding donors and serves as a national platform for laypeople, professionals, volunteers and full-time staff active in the palliative-hospice field. Its constitution sets out the goal that patients with any diagnosis should receive palliative care appropriate to their needs. The foundation engages in lobbying and public advocacy, public relations, and nationwide networking of regional palliative and hospice institutions. It advises laypeople, professionals and volunteers in associations and institutions, and connects affected persons and relatives with suitable local contacts. A notable early achievement was its role in changing German narcotics law: a letter to then-Chancellor Angela Merkel and a petition to the Bundestag led to amendments that were published in the Bundesgesetzblatt on 25 October 2012 and took effect on 26 October 2012, improving access to controlled medications for outpatient palliative patients. The DPS also administers the German Children's Palliative Foundation (Deutsche KinderPalliativStiftung). It publishes practical guides and materials, including the regularly updated "VORSORGEN! Mappe" and the annual German Palliative Calendar (Deutscher PalliativKalender) since 2012, through its Deutscher Palliativverlag imprint. In 2017 it received the special prize of the Hessian Health Prize for its "Kairos" project, and it was a finalist in the audience prize category of the German Engagement Prize 2012. The foundation has committed to full disclosure of its activities and finances according to Transparency International criteria. Leadership includes chairman Thomas Sitte, a palliative care physician from Fulda, deputy chairman Helmut Sämann, and treasurer Holger Wehner. The foundation council (Stiftungsrat) is chaired by Hubert Schindler and includes figures such as Helge Braun, former federal minister and president of the University of Lübeck. The DPS operates nationally from its Fulda base and remains active in advocacy, education and networking for palliative and hospice care in Germany.

The Deutsche Palliativstiftung (DPS) was founded on 8 May 2010 by eight founding donors, with its headquarters in Fulda, Germany. Its mission is to improve hospice work and palliative care for seriously ill and dying people throughout Germany. On 28 June 2010, the foundation held its first nationwide specialist congress on outpatient palliative care in Berlin. From its early years, the DPS combined practical support with political advocacy. It initiated a letter to Chancellor Angela Merkel and a petition to the German Bundestag aimed at amending the Narcotics Act (Betäubungsmittelgesetz). These efforts contributed to a public discussion and ultimately to legislative changes. The demands of the petition were incorporated into the Second Act Amending Pharmaceutical Law and Other Regulations, published in the Federal Law Gazette on 25 October 2012; the narcotics provisions entered into force on 26 October 2012. This change improved the supply of controlled medications for outpatient palliative patients. The foundation also administers the German Children's Palliative Foundation (Deutsche KinderPalliativStiftung). It engages in public relations and nationwide networking of regional palliative and hospice institutions, and provides advice to laypeople, professionals, and volunteers in associations and institutions. It connects affected persons and relatives with suitable local contacts. In 2012, the DPS was a finalist in the audience prize category of the German Engagement Prize. In 2017, it received the special prize of the Hessian Health Prize for its 'Kairos' project. The foundation has committed to full disclosure of all activities and financial matters according to Transparency International criteria. Through its Deutscher Palliativverlag, the DPS publishes practical materials such as the regularly updated 'VORSORGEN! Mappe' and, since 2012, the annual German Palliative Calendar (Deutscher PalliativKalender), which results from a nationwide photography competition. It also publishes guides on palliative care topics, including 'Die Pflegetipps – Palliative Care' and 'Ambulante Palliativversorgung – Ein Ratgeber'. As of its current governance, the board consists of chairman Thomas Sitte, deputy chairwoman Helmut Sämann, and treasurer Holger Wehner. The foundation council is chaired by Hubert Schindler, with Carsten Schütz as deputy, and includes Helge Braun, Helmfried Graf von Lüttichau, and others. The DPS remains active in lobbying, public education, and networking to advance palliative and hospice care in Germany.

• Foundation established by eight founding donors in Fulda.

• First nationwide specialist congress on outpatient palliative care held in Berlin.

• Amendment to the Narcotics Act published in the Federal Law Gazette, improving access to controlled medications for outpatient palliative patients.

• Finalist in the audience prize category of the German Engagement Prize.

• Received the special prize of the Hessian Health Prize for the 'Kairos' project.

National non-profit platform and advocacy organization for hospice and palliative care in Germany.

• VORSORGEN! Mappe

  A regularly updated collection of documents for hospital stays.

• Deutscher PalliativKalender

  Annual calendar published since 2012, resulting from a nationwide photography competition.

• Die Pflegetipps – Palliative Care

  A guidebook on palliative care, 15th edition published in 2016.

• Ambulante Palliativversorgung – Ein Ratgeber

  A guide to outpatient palliative care, expanded new edition published in 2014.

• Petition to amend the Narcotics Act

1. 1Palliativstiftung: Förderung der Hospizarbeit und Palliativversorgungpalliativstiftung.de
2. 2AHPS – Die Augsburger Hospiz- und Palliativstiftungpalliativstiftung.de
3. 3Palliativstiftung: Unsere Partner im Netzwerk Augsburgpalliativstiftung.de
4. 4AHPS – Die Augsburger Hospiz- und Palliativstiftungpalliativstiftung.de
5. 5German Palliative Foundationwikidata.org
6. 6Deutsche PalliativStiftungde.wikipedia.org