November 2015 - Pallium India

Published on: November 1, 2015

Dear Friend,

We are glad to start with some good news.
For many years, we have been trying to make methadone available for pain management in India. We had the paradoxical situation where this medicine was being manufactured for export to other countries while our own people were denied it. A few years back, it was approved for sale in India for treatment of drug dependence; but not for pain management. As morphine is currently the only oral opioid of step III of the analgesic ladder for pain management, we have had no second line opioid for those who do not tolerate morphine well. For all practical purposes, opioid switching was only a dream in India.
Things are looking up, however. On 27 October 2015, a subject expert committee meeting was held by Central Drug Standard Control Organization. Though the committee members had misgivings, Dr Sushma Bhatnagar was able to present the facts systematically, supported by documentary evidence, which has convinced them. The committee has recommended that the drug should be available for the management of persistent pain.

Rendezvous with the Ocean on World Palliative Care Day

Ashla Rani, a volunteer, writes:

Pallium India organized a get-together of patients and families on World Palliative Care Day, October 10, at Shanghumuham beach, Trivandrum. The program was attended by patients, families, volunteers, well-wishers and many others. A group of 20 volunteers from Government Model School were present, in addition to Pallium India’s own team, to make sure everyone was comfortable. State Bank of Travancore Chief General Manager E. K Harikumar and Pallium India’s patient Manoj inaugurated the event. Pallium India CEO Mr Manoj G.S., Chairman Dr M. R. Rajagopal and others spoke on the occasion.

Naushad, a cancer patient, described how the nurses, whom he referred to as ‘angels on earth’, look after him lovingly while taking care of his every need. His words expressed clearly that care delivered with love and not as a ‘duty’ significantly improves the quality of life of a patient and allows him to live with dignity.

Everyone began to mingle, and share stories and experiences. There were also dance, song and skit performances to entertain the audience.

A couple of us discussed how we can help more people who are confined to the four walls of their house. There are many who are not even aware of the facilities that are available. How do we find them, how do we ensure that they get the care they need? If everyone could find people in their own neighbourhood who are bed-bound or wheelchair-bound, there would not be so many ‘hidden’ patients in our country!

After the programs, everyone went for a rendezvous with the waves. Then we parted, with a promise to meet again next time.
Click here for the photos of the event.

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Upcoming Courses

TIPS, Trivandrum, Kerala

Six Week Certificate Course in Pain and Palliative Medicine (CCPPM) – 2 Nov 2015, 7 Mar 2016, 2 May 2016
Six Week Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing (CCPN) – 2 Nov 2015, 7 Mar 2016, 2 May 2016
10-day Foundation Course in Palliative Medicine – 2 Nov 2015, 7 Mar 2016, 2 May 2016

2-day Volunteers Training Program is conducted at Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences, Arumana Hospital, Trivandrum. Anyone interested in learning about palliative care can attend.

Contact: info@palliumindia.live-website.com, +91 471-2468991, 9746745497.

GCRI, Ahmedabad, Gujarat

Six Weeks Certificate Course in Pain and Palliative Medicine (CCPPM) – 1 March 2016
Six Weeks Certificate Course in Palliative Nursing (CCPN) -1 March 2016

Contact: palliumindia.gcri@gmail.com

MNJIO & RCC, Hyderabad, Telengana

One Month Certificate Course in Pain and Palliative Medicine (CCPPM) for Doctors, Nurses, Social Workers and Volunteers – 4 January 2016, 7 March 2016

Contact: mnj.palliative@gmail.com, +91 91772 38901

BMCHRC, Jaipur, Rajasthan

6 weeks’ Certificate Course in Pain and Palliative Care for Doctors and Nurses – 2 May 2016

Contact: Dr Anjum Khan Joad. palliumjaipur@gmail.com.

For more details on the courses we offer, please visit: https://palliumindia.org/courses/

From rejection to foundation stone – reflections on a nursing development in Kerala

Plans for a new fellowship in palliative nursing are underway in Kozhikode, Kerala. Its first cohort of students has been recruited and will help to shape and test the proposed programme. Read the news in ehospice.com

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Donate Toys for children!

We are happily accepting toy donations for our weekly children’s palliative care clinic. Certain specifications need to be considered before sending the toys across, due to the nature of the children’s illnesses.

Kindly avoid toys with small breakable parts, anything with batteries, toys with sharp edges, regular sized Lego pieces, jigsaw puzzles with small pieces, games involving liquids (like the ones that shoot rings onto sticks at the press of a button), stuffed toys that have fine hair and fluff, etc.

If you are interested in sending something across, do call us (+91-9746745497) or write to us:info@palliumindia.live-website.com. Thank you very much!

Palliative Care Information Centre

Contact Pallium India’s Information Centre (9 am to 12 noon, except on Sundays & National Holidays) for information related to palliative care and about establishments where such facilities are available in India.

Telephone: +91-9746745497 E-mail: info@palliumindia.live-website.com

Address: Pallium India, Arumana Hospital, Perunthanni, Trivandrum

For more details, please visit: https://palliumindia.org/info-centre/

Sahayatra Malayalam Newsletter

SAHAYATRA, Pallium India’s Malayalam print magazine, is meant for anyone interested in palliative care – patients and families, palliative care professionals, volunteers and well-wishers.

Click here to read the latest issue: https://palliumindia.org/newsletter/sahayatra/

To subscribe to Sahayatra, please send your complete postal address to info@palliumindia.live-website.com. The yearly subscription rate for Sahayatra is Rs.150/- However, we send Sahayatra free of cost to patients and families.

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