Qatar Care Holds CPD Seminar on Palliative Care Essentials: Strengthening Compassionate Nursing Practice
By: Dr. Abdulkarim Agga
With the belief that compassion is the core of quality care, Qatar Care successfully conducted a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar titled “Palliative Care Essentials: What Every Nurse Professional Should Know” on November 2, 2025, at Bayt Al Diyafah, Hamad Medical City. The event gathered nurses from across Qatar for an enriching session on one of the most meaningful and challenging areas of nursing, palliative care.
Designed to enhance nurses’ competence and confidence in providing end-of-life and supportive care, the session aimed to help participants integrate new knowledge into their daily practice. By the end of the program, attendees were expected to define the core concepts and principles of palliative care, identify the needs of patients and families, and apply holistic, compassionate approaches in every aspect of their care delivery.
The seminar featured a distinguished panel of speakers, namely Banazeer Banu, Ismail Atieh Ismail Abu-Sheikh, Lubna Mehmood, and Mohammad Farid Jamil Abusarah, who each brought valuable insight and clinical perspective on the evolving landscape of palliative nursing.
The event was skilfully moderated by Ms. Marwa Moghazi, MPH RN, Nurse Educator at PNS, and Ms. Vesa Lara Malaine Raga, RN, Quality Control Officer at Qatar Care, with Dr. Abdulkarim Agga, Head of Education and Training at Qatar Care, serving as facilitator.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Moghazi reminded participants that “education becomes powerful when it touches both the mind and the heart,” emphasizing that technical skills alone are not enough without empathy and genuine human connection. This sentiment set the tone for the rest of the day, as each speaker highlighted that palliative care is not solely about managing pain or symptoms but about enhancing quality of life and ensuring dignity until the end.
Throughout the seminar, participants engaged in meaningful discussions and case reflections, sharing personal experiences and professional insights on caring for patients with terminal illnesses. Many described the session as both intellectually stimulating and emotionally moving. One participant remarked, “Even when we cannot cure, we can always care,” a statement that resonated deeply with everyone in the room.
The discussions also stressed the importance of holistic care planning that addresses physical, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Ms. Raga encouraged nurses to integrate these dimensions into everyday practice, noting that “holistic care is not an option, it’s the essence of nursing.” Her message reminded participants that palliative care, when practiced with sensitivity and understanding, can profoundly improve the patient and family experience.
Accredited under Category 1 by the Ministry of Public Health’s Department of Healthcare Professions – Accreditation Section, the CPD activity reflected Qatar Care’s unwavering commitment to professional development and quality education. The event provided an avenue for nurses to renew their sense of purpose and reaffirm their role as compassionate caregivers within Qatar’s healthcare system.
As the seminar came to an end, the atmosphere was filled with gratitude and renewed inspiration. The participants left with deeper insight and a stronger sense of commitment to providing comfort, dignity, and humanity in every patient encounter.
