At present we are once again facing the tragedy of war the military invasion of Ukraine by Russia continues to unfold. People across the globe find themselves heartbroken and in tears as they are confronted by such horrific images on a daily basis.
In light of such difficult circumstances, we have announced that the 3rd&4th Joint Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (SCPSC), which was scheduled to be held in July 2022, will be postponed for the time being. However, we acknowledge the profound significance of the SCPSC being held even under such circumstances and, while ensuring safety, we are determined to hold it on April 27-29, 2023.

The International Research Society of the Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (IRS-SCPSC) was officially launched as an international research society in October 2019 after the finalization of various procedures including approval by the IRS-SCPSC Board of Directors. We have stated that the founding purpose of the Society is to pursue palliative care as a science based on the philosophy of "palliative care as a human right (2013)" as stated in the Prague Charter. Science consists of both natural science and humanities (humanities = sociology that studies human products and philosophy that studies human nature). In the research of palliative cancer care, in particular, the development of research that harmonizes both domains is indispensable.
In recent years, the integration of clinical oncology and palliative care has become generally recognized among cancer care professionals around the world. Our Society seeks to further develop its main aim, emphasizing science and advocating the establishment of a palliative oncology that includes psycho-oncology. Geographically speaking, the Society is centered in Asia, but its ideas are oriented beyond Asia to the rest of the world. This can be seen, I feel, from the program contents archived on the Society's website. In addition, the British Medical Journal Supportive and Palliative Care is now the official journal of this Society, which I think is a further proof that the Society is open to the entire world.
In 2015, the United Nations adopted the framework, "Transforming our world: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development" and set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).Goal3, in the field of health, is centered around Universal Health Coverage (UHC), with palliative care included in one of the four domains comprising UHC. This means that a new health care framework has been set for the future, and discussions will be held in this conference with an eye toward this trend.

Despite the many twists and turns, the 3rd&4th Joint SCPSC is now scheduled for April 27-29, 2023. We apologize for the inconvenience caused to the many people involved. However, we would like to ask for your participation in what we believe to be a particularly attractive program.
We look forward to the participation of many professionals involved in both palliative oncology and palliative care for diseases other than cancer.

Kunihiko Ishitani
President of The International Research Society of the SCPSC
President, Higashi Sapporo Hospital
Asian Editor, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care
November 24th, 2022