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Montreal, May 3, 2026 — On the occasion of National Palliative Care Week, taking place from May 3 to 9, 2026, the Quebec Coalition for Access to Palliative Care (the Coalition) wishes to highlight its priorities by reminding the public that palliative care is not limited to the final days of life, but rather represents a comprehensive approach to care aimed at improving the quality of life of people living with serious illness, as well as that of their loved ones.

In the spring of 2026, issues related to end-of-life care are occupying an important place in the public conversation, particularly following the extensive media coverage surrounding Manuelle Légaré’s play Club Sandwich Mayonnaise. The Coalition believes it is essential to continue awareness efforts in order to foster a better understanding of the role of palliative care and the importance of equitable access to these services across Quebec.

The documentary theatre production by Porte Parole has helped spark important and necessary conversations about end-of-life issues. The Coalition wishes to emphasize that palliative care is part of this broader collective reflection and remains far too often misunderstood, despite its ability to significantly improve the quality of life of patients and their loved ones — well before the final days of life — while ensuring compassionate and dignified support until the end.

“Too many people in Quebec still associate palliative care solely with the very last days of life. Yet palliative care can be integrated much earlier in the illness trajectory in order to provide comfort, guidance, psychological support, and quality of life, regardless of age, diagnosis, or care setting,” said Dr. Olivia Nguyen, President of the Quebec Society of Palliative Care Physicians.

Videos to Challenge Misconceptions

Palliative care aims not only to relieve pain and symptoms, but also to address the psychological, social, and existential needs of people living with serious illnesses and those close to them. It can be provided alongside curative treatments and may extend over several weeks, months — and sometimes even years.

This year, the Coalition and its partners will share a variety of awareness content to illustrate the diverse realities experienced by patients and families, and to remind the public that palliative care is ultimately about living better, until the very end.

The Coalition invites the public to watch the videos from its series Palliative Care Means Living Better on its YouTube channel or on the Coalition’s website to discover the many profiles of real patients benefiting from palliative care — and how it helps them live better before the end of life.

The Coalition’s Priorities

As part of this awareness week, the Coalition is highlighting five key priorities to ensure equitable access to quality palliative care for all Quebecers:

1. Strengthen governance and clinical coordination in order to reduce inequalities in access between regions across Quebec;
   
   
2. Improve training for healthcare professionals, caregivers, and volunteers by supporting the deployment of recognized and accessible training programs throughout Quebec;
   
   
3. Increase public awareness in order to dispel myths surrounding palliative care and encourage earlier integration into care trajectories;
   
   
4. Establish a national observatory on palliative and end-of-life care to monitor quality indicators, population needs, and best practices;
   
   
5. Sustainably support palliative care resources and programs, including palliative care homes, home care services, and caregivers, in order to ensure continuity and quality of services across Quebec.
   
   

About the Coalition

The Coalition is a group of approximately 30 organizations whose mission is to collectively promote equitable access to quality palliative care by advancing the various aspects of palliative care throughout Quebec. It recognizes the tireless work of palliative care specialists, as well as all professionals who, while not specialists in the field, are committed to providing care grounded in compassion and respect. Its website: .