Published on: August 28, 2019

It is 11 years since Kerala government declared its palliative care policy. On the 8th and 9th of August 2019, under the able leadership of Kerala’s former chief secretary Shri Vijayanand IAS, the government initiated a review of the policy.

Well-begun is half done. (Maybe a bit more than half, really.) A process that started with the two-day discussion has completed the first phase of the activity. A meeting held on 27 August 2019 has approved of the draft document to be submitted to the Government. As the Hon Health Minister Smt Shylaja Teacher and the Principal Secretary Dr Rajan Khobragade have taken personal interest in the matter, we do expect speedy action.

Thank you, Dr Deepak Varughese and Ms Shriya Singh, for doing much of the tedious drafting work. Thank you, everyone concerned from across the state for undertaking this task, and thank you Shri Vijayanand. Your leadership made all the difference.