Bilbao was the setting on May 14th for the HENKO NET, BILBAO 2025 workshop, a full-day event organized as part of the European Interreg Sudoe program. Held at the headquarters of the General Assembly of Bizkaia in Bilbao, the workshop brought together 100 professionals, social agents, and experts in palliative care, along with an additional 80 participants who joined online. Throughout the day, participants reflected on the challenges and opportunities in the humanization of end-of-life care, focusing on how innovation can go hand in hand with respect for people’s dignity, values, and ways of life.
One of the main conclusions of the event was the crucial role of communication in palliative care. More than just the exchange of information, communication was described as a fundamental tool for building trust. This trust is what allows technology to be effectively integrated into truly personalized and comprehensive care.
Another central theme was the importance of early detection. The ability to anticipate and plan ahead, supported by appropriate technological tools, was highlighted as a key opportunity. However, speakers emphasized that implementation must be carried out with great care, always placing the well-being of the patient and their family at the center. “Gaining time means gaining companionship, comfort, and spiritual peace,” one speaker noted.
Regarding innovation, participants emphasized that it must be territorial, flexible, and person-centered. Palliative care has an irreplaceable human component, they affirmed, and any technological advance loses its value if it overlooks this essential element. Digital tools, assessment scales, and coordination platforms were acknowledged as useful facilitators—but only when they support, not replace, human interaction.
The role of the community was also a key focus of the workshop. With its cultural diversity and transformative potential, the community was recognized as a crucial actor in the care process. “Palliative care must be connected to community networks,” was one of the most reiterated conclusions.
Professionals expressed openness to new technologies but also voiced concerns. There is a risk, they said, that the time needed to learn and apply digital tools may detract from the time available for high-quality, direct care. Multidisciplinary coordination platforms were viewed positively, as was the need to agree on a minimum set of shared data among professionals and services.
Finally, the workshop highlighted the emergence of new professional roles, such as community connectors, who help facilitate interaction between different agents and ensure a holistic, coordinated approach to palliative care.
The HENKO NET 2025 workshop concluded with a clear roadmap: to move toward more human, integrated, and adaptable palliative care—where technology serves as an ally, not a substitute, for personal attention and emotional support.
