The Parliamentary Assembly recognises that palliative care is a vital and integral part of health services and that any person who needs palliative care should be able to access such care without undue bureaucracy or delay, and in a setting that is consistent with individual need and choice (Recommendation Rec(2003)24) of the Committee of Ministers to member States on the organisation of Palliative Care). The Assembly further recognizes that the appropriate, normative and internationally recognized best practice of palliative care is consistent with the human dignity and rights of seriously ill people.
The Assembly notes that despite Recommendation Rec(2003)24), there remain significant disparities between countries regarding the provision of appropriate, normative and internationally recognised best practice in standards of palliative care.
Recognising the human dignity of every person at every stage of their life, the Assembly calls for an investigation into access to the appropriate, normative and internationally recognised best practice of palliative care for every sick person whose condition requires such care; furthermore the Assembly calls for investigations of where the Committee of Ministers recommendations have been implemented and whether or not resources are being made available to ensure the needs of very ill people who require appropriate, normative and internationally recognised best practice standards of palliative care are being met.