The National Healthcare Group (NHG), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Dover Park Hospice are working together on a new centre to better understand patients with end-stage organ diseases, including developing more effective tools for predicting lifespans.

While the focus in the past years has been on cancer patients, this time the interest has been shifted towards non-cancer illnesses, as these patients have a different set of needs.

Such patients include those suffering from end-stage organ failure, diseases and even dementia.

NHG, NTU and Dover Park Hospice will sign a Memorandum of Understanding on Oct 12 to commit to developing research and education in areas of non-cancer-related chronic diseases with the intention of launching the new centre, called the Palliative Care Centre for Excellence in Research and Education (PalC), in the third quarter of next year.

The centre will develop training and education programmes to equip healthcare professionals and volunteers with skills to provide patients with a more comfortable, productive and independent end of life.