• Vilma A Tripodoro, Anna Ray, Eduardo Garralda, Fernanda Bastos, Álvaro Montero, Ana Cristina Béjar, Juan José Pons, Marie-Charlotte Bouësseau, and Carlos Centeno.
• ATLANTES Global Observatory of Palliative Care (V.A.T., E.G., F.B., A.M., A.C.B., J.J.P., M.C.B., C.C.), Institute Culture and Society, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain; IdiSNA (V.A.T., C.C.), Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. Electronic address: vtripodoro@unav.es.
• J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Sep 24.

ContextPalliative care is an essential health service, with over 56.8 million people needing it yearly, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The World Health Assembly has recognized palliative care as an ethical responsibility and called for comprehensive primary health care. The World Health Organization has published a technical report titled "Assessing the Development of Palliative Care Worldwide," as a crucial first step in addressing palliative care. The report includes 14 indicators to help decision-makers identify service provision gaps and inform health priorities, piloted by WHO's ATLANTES in Benin, Morocco, and Uruguay as part of a global assessment.ObjectivesTo describe, for the three countries, the primary outcomes and lessons learned to enable replication in further countries.MethodsA step-by-step description of the assessment project, a summary of the main results obtained through evaluations, and a description of how the selected countries effectively implemented the WHO indicators through a six-step process, including a phase of action plan design. We advocated a 'Do-it-yourself' approach.ResultsThe summary data from three country reports reveals national development at a national level. A SWOT analysis involving consultants and program managers was conducted. A stakeholder guide was developed, providing trigger questions and practical recommendations for assessing development using specific indicators. Full information can be found in the specific published reports.ConclusionThe WHO approach has proven effective in identifying health system deficiencies and disseminating information about palliative care evaluation processes. The report provides a 'Do-it-yourself' approach, encouraging self-management without expert guidance.Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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