In this latest Saturday Morning Chat, Barbara and Craig Geoff sit down with Prof Liz Gwyther, one of South Africa’s pioneers in palliative care, to reflect on her journey — from grassroots hospice work to global advocacy.
From General Practice to Palliative Care
Liz’s story began in general practice, where her work with Helderberg Hospice opened her eyes to the inconsistencies in symptom management for patients with advanced disease. What started as volunteer work quickly became a vocation, as she and her colleagues joined hospice staff to bring greater continuity and compassion to care.
Recognising the need for specialised knowledge, Liz pursued postgraduate studies in palliative medicine at Cardiff University, later completing her Master’s on the education requirements for hospice doctors in South Africa.
Working with collaborators, she helped bring this programme home to South Africa — establishing the Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine at the University of Cape Town in 2001. The programme became a cornerstone in training South African clinicians and continues to shape practice today. Both Barbara and Craig Geoff attended UCT to study in this programme
Global Advocacy and the WHA Resolution
Liz’s advocacy extended beyond South Africa’s borders. One of her proudest milestones was contributing to the 2014 World Health Assembly Resolution, which affirmed that palliative care is an ethical responsibility and a component of every health system — a resolution co-sponsored by South Africa and adopted unanimously by 194 countries.
When Craig Geoff asked about bringing the global agenda home, Liz described the establishment of a national steering committee which led to South Africa’s National Policy Framework for Palliative Care in 2017. Liz emphasised the importance of champions, noting that true integration must combine top-down policy with bottom-up passion and training.
Looking Ahead
Now, Liz focuses on mentorship and supporting the next generation of palliative care researchers, particularly PhD students working to strengthen the evidence base in Africa.
Her call to action remains clear: develop robust clinical guidelines, train all healthcare workers, and ensure that palliative care is sustainably funded and fully integrated into public health systems.
🎧 Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/Sl6U8gGPLj4
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