Pallium India thanks all those who applied for the Pallcare India project funded by Savitri Waney Trust, Farida & Yusuf Hamied Foundation and Bruce Davis Trust.

The process of tabulation and evaluation of applications starts today. They will then be sent to the three member screening committee.  Pallium India or the Committee may ask for some clarifications and we request prompt replies to emails so that we can finalise the selection in April itself and proceed with the project as early as possible.

Applications have now closed. Information below is provided for reference only.

Applications are invited for the following project from cancer centres, Government or Charitable Medical Colleges in India without well-established palliative care service and desirous of developing it according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization.

Pallcare India is a Pallium India project supported by:

• Savitri Waney Trust
• Farida and Yusuf Hamied Foundation
• Bruce Davis Trust

Application deadline: 30 MARCH 2010

Please read the proposal below and apply online (link at the bottom of proposal)

Aim

The aim of the project is to initiate or strengthen palliative care in three medical educational centers or cancer treatment facilities which agree to making palliative care an institutional priority. The project will provide, a grant, train professionals and offer technical support.

Project Details

1. Three centers in India will be chosen for the project.
2. Any cancer center or Government or Government or Charitable Medical College in India without a well-established palliative care service, desirous of starting palliative care services is eligible to apply.
3. A committee including members from Pallium India and the funding agencies will screen applications and select three centers. In selection of institutions for the funding, first priority will be given to centers in States with little or no palliative care. If there are no eligible applications from such centers, others will be considered.
4. The selected institution must be willing to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Pallium India specifying the duties and responsibilities of each partner.
5. The selected institution will have to agree to initiate a palliative care service within three months of completion of Step I.
6. The applicant institution will have to agree to procure immediate release oral morphine, to take steps to ensure its uninterrupted availability and to ensure its rational use, adequate drug management procedures and proper documentation. Pallium India will provide the necessary advice in this matter and will assist in preparation of estimates.
7. The applicant institution will have to agree to contribute the time of the two trainees during the training period, that the trained personnel will be able to spend at least 50% of their working time to palliative care, and that it will continue to provide the funds to continue palliative care and morphine availability when the project terminates at the end of two years.
8. For all amounts given to the recipient institution, the institution will be obliged to submit receipts and detailed statement of expenses.
9. The applicant institution will have to agree to cooperate with the visiting team from the training center for evaluation of outcomes including assistance to obtain relevant statistics on patient numbers, morphine prescriptions and dispensing.
10. Pallium India will support and assist the trainees with issues in palliative care and opioid availability by being available for e-mail consultations.
11. Within one month of completion of training and at the completion of the project, each trainee will be required to submit a report outlining the work they did upon return to the institution, what issues they encountered, and how they addressed the problems.

Step 1: Training of Professionals

1. The selected institution is expected to depute two professionals (preferably a doctor-nurse team) who have an interest in palliative care and satisfactorily complete a six weeks’ certificate course in palliative care. At least one of the two must be a doctor.
2. The training will be provided in Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences, Trivandrum, Kerala. (Descriptive note on the institution is attached)
3. Minimum qualification for such training is MBBS degree for the doctor, a diploma in nursing or equivalent qualification for other professionals.
4. Medium of instruction for the training is English. The trainee’s ability to handle English must be taken into consideration when the selected institution deputes trainees.
5. The actual amount of money spent on travel necessary to participate in the training and an allowance to cover accommodation and food will be reimbursed to the candidate subject to the condition that the maximum amount that can be provided for this purpose would be Rs. 40,000 per trainee.

Step 2: Starting/Improving Palliative Care Service

1. The grant available for starting palliative care service will be disbursed in instalments by cheque on a monthly basis.
2. Upon completion of Step I, the first instalment of the take-off grant will be disbursed to the selected institution to enable starting/improving the palliative care facility.
3. The selected institution is expected to start a palliative care service within three months of completion of training.
4. Education of the local health care professionals, the public and government administrators will be a priority for successful establishment of palliative care services. Hence the project envisages one educational workshop in the locality to facilitate proper take-off of the palliative care service. This could be directed first and foremost at professionals in the institution; but would also be available to other professionals in the area, medical students, the public and administrators. Each workshop would be of one to two days’ duration. The agenda and the faculty for the workshops will follow the guidance given by Pallium India. This should be taken up preferably within 3 months, and not later than 6 months.
5. Pallium India will work with the selected institution to analyze issues related to opioid availability, conduct an opioid availability workshop and to seek solutions to any existing problems.

Financial Support

In addition to the amount available for initial travel and training of two professionals, financial support will be made available to selected institutions as follows and may be used only for the purposes of this project:

• Local expenses including venue, audiovisual aids, refreshments and accommodation for education program and opioid availability workshop in the cancer center subject to the condition that the events will be conducted as intended by the project as instructed by Pallium India.
  Amount: Rs. 60,000
• Take off grant to support palliative care service for a period of two years.
  Amount: Rs. 720,000

Note: The amount will not be transferred in bulk, but suitable advances would be disbursed by Pallium India for each step after committee evaluation of progress.

Monitoring & Evaluation

A screening committee including representatives of the funding agencies and Pallium India will be responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the project. The faculty member/members deputed by Pallium India for the educational program in the cancer center will also be entrusted with the responsibility of on-site monitoring and evaluation of the program.

Anticipated Outcome

It is expected that support during the early phase will cause either starting of a palliative care facility in three more oncology centers in India or in significant strengthening of existing services. The Indian experience so far shows that once a proper palliative care facility gets off the ground and its benefits become visible, further progress and sustainability are relatively easy. Cancer pain being emotive, support from the community is usually easily forthcoming.

Over the long term, we expect that a visible palliative care service in one location will result in more palliative care facilities to develop elsewhere. The proposed educational program in Step 2 is expected to spread the message of palliative care among professionals, improve referral rate and establish a regulatory environment conducive to uninterrupted access to essential medicines including oral morphine.

Application

Applications are now closed.

If you have any further questions, please use our contact form…