Key messages - Pre-planning -- Is a cancer palliative care plan needed? -- Planning step 1: Where are we

now? -- Assess the number of people in neeed of cancer palliative care -- Assess the needs of patients,

health-care providers and family caregivers -- Assess the existing palliative care plan and activities --

Understand the social context of the palliative care plan and cativities -- Self-assessment by countries --

Planning step 2: where do we want to be? -- Define the target population for palliative care -- Identify gaps

in palliative care services -- Set goals and objetives for palliative care -- Assess fesibility of

interventions -- Consider ethical issues -- Set priorities for palliative care -- Planning step 3: how do we

get there? -- Bridge the gaps in palliative care -- Raise the necessary resources -- Organize cancer

palliative care services across all levels of care -- Adopt a team approach -- Understand the role of

health-care providers -- Create palliative care teams -- Educte caregivers -- Educte the general public and

policy-makers -- Ensure the availability of essential drugs for the management of pain and other sumptoms --

Develop palliative care standards -- Evaluate and monitor the palliative care plan and activities --

Conclusion -- References --

A practical guide for programme managers on how to implement effective palliative care for cancer, with a

particular focus on community-based care.