Rome, June 3, 2026 – The ‘Carta di Roma 2026’ (Rome Charter 2026), a comprehensive global care alliance for pediatric palliative care, was officially launched today. This manifesto of intent seeks to dismantle deeply rooted cultural misunderstandings and reaffirm that pediatric palliative care is not a precursor to death, but rather a vital life experience that must be fully supported and valued in its dignity.
A Civil and Social Right for 30,000 Children
The initiative, promoted by the ‘La miglior vita possibile’ Foundation and sponsored by the National Bioethics Committee, along with Sicp, the Federation of Palliative Care, Aieop, and Fnopi, with an unconditional contribution from Epitech group, aims to establish pediatric palliative care as a civil and social right at all levels. This right is fully enshrined in Article 32 of the Italian Constitution, which guarantees the right to health.
The launch of the ‘Carta di Roma 2026’ stems from an analysis of a complex assistance reality that demands immediate interventions to overcome cultural obstacles and territorial disparities. It is estimated that approximately 30,000 children and adolescents require this type of care, with an incidence ranging from 34 to 54 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. Within this group, a significant portion of about 11,000 minors (18 per 100,000) have needs so complex that they require the intervention of specialized interdisciplinary teams.
However, the assistance gap remains alarming: currently, only 26% of those eligible for these specialized services actually receive them, while the need continues to grow at a rate of 5% annually.
Overcoming Prejudice and Misinformation
“The Rome Declaration 2026 represents a fundamental starting point and an opportunity for effective coordination: we have succeeded in uniting academics, clinicians, experts, and institutions in a broad care alliance. It is necessary to overcome prejudices and misinformation that identify palliative care with the antechamber of death: on the contrary, they are a life experience to be accompanied and supported, protecting the dignity of the child and the family unit. Caring is always possible and necessary. With this Charter, we ask for a synergistic commitment between healthcare, universities, and civil society so that pediatric palliative care is fully recognized as a civil and social right,” explained Giuseppe Zaccaria, president of the La Miglior Vita Possibile Foundation.
Evolving Professional Training
The need for highly trained professionals to address complex clinical situations and support children and families through emotionally intense care pathways is also a key focus. “Pediatric palliative care today requires increasingly prepared professionals to face complex clinical situations and to accompany children and families along high-intensity emotional care pathways. At the center of the new training model, advanced skills emerge not only on the clinical but also on the relational and ethical level. The evolution of specialized training therefore represents a decisive step for the future of pediatric palliative care. A change that aims to combine competence, humanity, and assisted innovation,” stated Maria Grazia de Marinis, vice-president of the National Bioethics Committee.
The ‘Carta di Roma 2026’ seeks to ensure that every child and adolescent in Italy who needs palliative care receives it, regardless of their location or social status. This comprehensive approach aims to integrate medical, psychological, social, and spiritual support to enhance the quality of life for both the children and their families.
The alliance emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach, recognizing that palliative care extends beyond medical treatment to encompass the emotional well-being and dignity of the child and their family. The ultimate goal is to create a national framework where pediatric palliative care is accessible, equitable, and recognized as an essential component of the healthcare system.
The organizers hope that this unified effort will lead to concrete policy changes, increased funding, and greater public awareness, ultimately transforming the landscape of pediatric palliative care in Italy and beyond.
Source: roma.corriere.it
