Bangalore | Published on: August 8, 2010

The Day Care Centre for cancer patients run by the Department of Palliative Medicine in the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology, Bangalore celebrated its first anniversary on 4th August 2010.

At the function, the Principal Health Secretary Shri E V Ramana Reddy said that the State Government, in coordination with the Drugs Control Department would ensure that oral morphine used to alleviate pain in cancer patients will be made available in District and Taluk Hospitals.

Dr K B Lingegowda, Professor and Head of the Dept of Palliative Medicine, Kidwai Institute, said that the institute was the first in the country to start using oral morphine for cancer pain in 1988 and is made available free to patients only in Bangalore, compelling patients from across the state and from nearby states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu to come all the way to the institute in Bangalore.

Congratulations, Dr Linge Gowda and team, and thank you Mr Ramana Reddy.

It is heartening that awareness about the need for pain relief and for morphine has reached administrators. Of course, it is not only a matter of making morphine available; but also of education of doctors and nurses in those hospitals.

Best wishes for success in your efforts!

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Other reports:

• The Hindu:
  District hospitals to stock oral morphine
• Deccan Herald: Oral morphine for terminally-ill cancer patients