Published on: April 22, 2015

Pallium India, in collaboration with the Cachar Cancer and Research Centre and with the support of International Association for the Study of Pain, organised a two-day sensitization training program in Pain and Palliative Medicine for the final year UG medical students of Silchar Government Medical College. This program was the first of its kind to be organised in the state of Assam. 87 UG students, 9 PG students, HODs of various departments, including the Principal and the Vice principal attended the program. The program was well received by the participants.

For most of the students as well as the faculty of the college, the concept of palliative care was new. At the end of the training, several students expressed interest in getting a better understanding of the practice of palliative care.

There is no palliative care service available at Silchar Medical College Hospital. Apart from one doctor, Dr.Iqbal, and two nurses, Ms. Sarita and Ms Achun, at Cachar Cancer and Research Centre, there are no trained palliative care healthcare professionals there. Dr. Iqbal, Ms. Sarita and Ms. Achun had undergone 6 weeks certificate training in palliative medicine / nursing from Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences.