March 2022
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Dr Shashi Tharoor releases Dr Rajagopal’s memoir
Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP for Thiruvananthapuram, released the memoir of Pallium India’s Chairman, Dr M. R. Rajagopal, on February 22, 2022. The launch event of “Walk with the weary: Lessons in humanity in health care” was attended by Sharada Muradeedharan IAS, Secretary, Local Self Government, Government of Kerala, and Premachandra Kurup IAS, Pallium India’s beneficiary Preetha Thonnakkal and others.
The event, organized at Pallium India’s headquarters, was streamed live via ZOOM as well as on Pallium India’s Facebook page, and was attended by over 300 people from across the globe.
Walk with the weary: Lessons in humanity in health care by Dr M. R. Rajagopal is available in paperback and ebook formats and can be purchased from these online bookstores:
The publishers, Notion Press are offering 45% discount as a launch offer for the first 150 orders. To avail this discount, please purchase a print copy on NotionPress store. Please use the coupon code PALLIATIVCARE.
Notion Press Publishers: https://notionpress.com/read/walk-with-the-weary
Amazon: https://www.amazon.in/dp/B09RPCKS8K
Flipkart: https://www.flipkart.com/walk-with-the-weary/p/itm8eff6b6ea22f5
‘Walk with the Weary’ is a compilation of shared experiences from Dr Rajagopal’s decades-long palliative care journey, walking with people suffering from life limiting illnesses, and lessons learned on how to befriend life until the very end, with compassionate care on one’s side.
The book is dedicated to all those who generously shared their life stories with the author. All proceeds from the sale of the book goes towards providing palliative care to people who desperately need it but have no access to it.
The book is available for free download on Kindle for a limited period of time. Please make use of this opportunity and also share this information with your friends.
Click here for the Kindle version
For more information, please contact: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497
Memoir by Pallium India Founder released – The Times of India – February 23, 2022
Death in peace should be a right for all: Shashi Tharoor – The New Indian Express – February 23, 2022
Change the Ending: Cervical Cancer – Perspectives on Prevention and Palliative Care
Pallium India and CAPED India invite you to a webinar on International Women’s Day, regarding cervical cancer: the only cancer that is 100% preventable yet continues to be one of the most prevalent and painful cancers in women.
Date: Tuesday, March 8, 2022
Time: 6PM – 7:15PM IST
The webinar will shed light on these questions and more:
- Is cervical cancer a sexually transmitted disease?
- What can men do to prevent cervical cancer?
- Cervical cancer is the only cancer that is 100% preventable. How can we prevent it?
Panelists:
Mridu Gupta (Founder CAPED India, Leader of Sankalp, Nullife Foundation, Shikshanjali Edu Tech), Dr. Gopukrishnan Pillai (Palliative Care Physician, Senior Public Health Specialist, Swasti Health Catalyst), Navika Harshe (Co-founder A-id, Economist, Research Fellow, Pallium India), Sangeeta Gupta (Educator, Editor, Content developer and Cervical Cancer Survivor)
Moderator:
Smriti Rana, Head – Strategic Programmes and Partnerships, Pallium India
Please join us! Help spread awareness and be part of the movement to eliminate cervical cancer.
How to Join
Register now: https://bit.ly/3pdyeCC
IAPCON 2022
The 29th Annual International Indian Association of Palliative Care’s conference (IAPCON) began on 11 February, 2022. There were a series of informative and enriching sessions that were attended in person and virtually by palliative care enthusiasts from across the world. A wonderful summary of the each of the sessions can be read at IAPC website:
Day 1: Feb 11, 2022 – https://www.palliativecare.in/update-iapcon-2022-jaipur-day-1/
Day 2: Feb 12, 2022 – https://www.palliativecare.in/update-iapcon-2022-jaipur-day-2/
Day 3: Feb 13, 2022 – https://www.palliativecare.in/update-iapcon-2022-jaipur-day-3/
On February 10, there were pre conference workshops that were attended by several people from across the world. https://www.palliativecare.in/update-iapcon-2022-jaipur/
Congratulations to the organizers for a well conducted event!
Winners of various competitions at IAPCON 2022:
IAPC’s Annual quiz:
West Zone (represented by Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and Gujarat Cancer Research Institute, Ahmedabad).
The team was represented by Dr Jyothsna Kuriakose, Dr Kashish Vats, Dr Lekha Raval, Dr Prasun P, Ms Simaran Suryawanshi and Dr Varun Yadav.
IAPC’s Annual Debate:
First Prize: Dr Krithika S Rao from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Second Prize: Dr Raghav Gupta from AIIMS New Delhi
Poster Presentation:
First Prize: Dr Shweta Kiran Chawak from IIT, Hyderabad
Second Prize: Dr Srikanth Srinivasan from AIIMS Jodhpur
Third Prize: Ms Neethu Susan Abraham from AIIMS New Delhi
Oral Presentation:
First Prize: Ms Michelle Normen from Karunashraya, Bengaluru
Second Prize: Dr Arun Vivek from Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi
Third Prize (Tie):
Dr Stanley C Macaden from the Palliative Care Programme of The Christian Medical Association of India(CMAI), Bengaluru
Dr Prinu Jose from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
Winners of Cancer Aid Society awards
International Award for Excellence and Leadership in Palliative Care was announced for Individuals/ organisations in 2011 by Cancer Aid Society, an organisation having Special Consultative Status with United Nations ECOSOC, Associate United Nations Department of Global Communications and Participant of World Health Organization’s GCM/NCD.
This year the awards were presented at the Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) at Jaipur.
Winners of this year’s awards in different categories are as follows:
Doctors: Dr. M.S. BIJI
Nurses/ Para Medical: Ms. SAROJA GANGAIAH
Volunteers: Mr. K RADHAKRISHNA MENON
Congratulations!
Dr M S Biji 
Ms. Saroja Gangaiah 
Mr Radhakrishna Menon
Obituary: Dr Cynthia Goh
Dr Cynthia Goh, the palliative care pioneer of Asia Pacific countries and a global leader of palliative care, sadly died in the evening of the 13th February 2022.
Dr. Cynthia Goh started her career in palliative care as a volunteer and eventually became the force that influenced the whole region as she built the Asia Pacific Hospice Network from its foundation.
Known for her efficiency and ability to inspire people, she worked with Dr Sushma Bhatnagar to develop pain relief centres in numerous cancer institutions across India. We at Pallium India fondly remember her visit to our institution in 2014. She had joined our home visit team to the hilly terrains in the village of Uzhamalakkal and inspired the whole of our team in the classroom later.
Rest in peace Dr Cynthia Goh. You will be remembered!
(Picture credit: The Straits Times: Pioneer of Palliative Care, Dr Cynthia Goh, dies of pancreatic cancer at age 72)
Interview: ‘The Over-Medicalisation of Death Is Much Worse in India’
The Lancet Commission on Death published a detailed report on January 31, titled ‘Value of Death’. The name may sound strange, but it puts the spotlight back on one of the more ignored aspects of medical science: palliative care.
Such care focuses on treating terminally ill patients by addressing their suffering in a comfortable setting, instead of confining them to intensive care. The latter happens even when health workers know a cure is impossible.
The Wire Science speaks to Dr M R Rajagopal
When death takes away more than the person
One of the more terrible outcomes of Covid-19 was the isolation of those infected, often in a hospital ward, amid unfamiliar surroundings and with unknown people, without a loved one to touch, talk and comfort. For every death recorded as a pandemic statistic, many more were emotionally distressed, indeed torn apart. Families continue to live with memories that will haunt them for a lifetime, of not being present at the time of death of their loved ones.
Dr M R Rajagopal and Jagdish Rattanani write in Deccan Herald
Indian Nursing Council integrates Palliative Care to UG nursing curriculum
In 2006, Government of India formed a committee involving experts in palliative care from various parts of the country to create a national policy for palliative care. These experts found that health care curricula had inadequate inclusion of palliative care content, skills, and minimal inclusion of end-of-life content in healthcare textbooks. They also identified a need for training and continuing education in palliative care with a special focus on undergraduate medical and nursing courses.
The expert committee understood the need for a curricular and policy reform to educate a future generation of health professionals who can provide high-quality palliative care services. The initial attempts to integrate palliative care into the Undergraduate curriculum was started in 2006 -2007, followed by the submission of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) WP (C) 76/2007 before the Supreme Court of India. But, even the representations to the Medical Council of India and Indian Nursing Council (INC) for incorporating palliative care into the undergraduate curriculum were unsuccessful during that decade.
In 2012, with the participation of the INC, the Ministry of Health & declared the National Strategy for Palliative Care for the five years. An essential aspect of this strategy was the appropriate inclusion of palliative care in the undergraduate nursing curriculum.
‘Conquering Cancer’ – an eye-opener
Manisha Mary Marshal, Social officer, Pallium India, writes:
On World Cancer Day, 4th of February, 2022, Pallium India joined hands with the Australia-based film production house, Moonshine Agency, to screen their documentary “Conquering Cancer”. Pallium India has had previous association with the Moonshine Agency especially during the creation of the feature film “Hippocratic” which emphasizes the importance of access to palliative care, social justice and equitable healthcare.
The movie “Conquering Cancer” is an effort to eliminate cervical cancer in every country as the burden of suffering due to cervical cancer specifically in low and middle income countries is so huge.
End of life care to become legal right in the UK
Less than one month after the historic report of the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death of 31 January 2022, Government of UK is to support a bill to be tabled before the Parliament to make access to palliative care a legal right across the country.
Professor and palliative care doctor Baroness Ilora Finlay, is a member of the House of Lords and a strong force in improving access to palliative care in the UK.
Perhaps it is time to reflect on where we are in India in this matter. Access even to basic pain relief reaches less than 4% of Indians. However, the recent introduction of palliative care into MBBS course and into the National Health Policy give us reason for optimism for the future, provided we are able to work together for the cause.
Read more:
End-of-life care will become a legal right
End of life care to become a legal right
Dying people to be given legal right to healthcare for the first time in NHS history
ECHO Hamrahi session
Dr Odette Spruijt, Founder & Chair of Australasian Palliative Link International (APLI) writes:
On 8th February, 2022, Australasian Palliative Link International (APLI) and Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS) held their third ECHO Hamrahi session. The topic was Opioid availability in India with Dr Rajagopal, Pallium India as key speaker, followed by three speakers from across India, Drs Ali Azher (Thanal, Lakshadweep), Rita Rani (Mahavir Cancer Sansthan, Patna, Bihar) and Iqbal Bahar (Cachar Cancer Centre, Silchar, Assam).
After a review of the 2014 Amended NDPS law and related 2015 rules, there was discussion about why there were still so many districts across India which were still following the pre-2014 NDPS rules, despite it now being against the law to do so.
Video of the Month
Shashi Tharoor releases Dr Rajagopal’s memoir “Walk With the Weary”
Dr Shashi Tharoor, MP for Thiruvananthapuram, released the memoir of Pallium India’s Chairman, Dr M. R. Rajagopal, on February 22, 2022. The launch event of “Walk with the weary: Lessons in humanity in health care” was streamed live via zoom and Facebook. Sign Language interpretation was done for online viewers by B S Vinayachandran.
Watch Dr Tharoor’s speech: https://youtu.be/WT7EA2x45nE
For the complete video of the book launch, please click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePSVgWKAc7k
Subscribe to Pallium India’s youtube channel for videos related to palliative care and our activities. You can watch previous webinars and training sessions, as well as listen to caregivers, survivors and others sharing their experiences.
Follow us on Social Media for updates
Contact us: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497
Look at grief even when you can look away
Palliative Care Training in West Bengal
Our most worthwhile clinical work in the coastal area during the pandemic
Screening tool for Serious Health-related Suffering
A friend in need is a friend indeed
‘Better late than never’: Integration of palliative care into India’s Armed Forces
If the armed forces can think about delivering good quality palliative care for their army personnels’ and families, I feel that the hour has come for the health system in the country to realize the imminent need to integrate palliative care in the main stream. Lt. Alice Stella Verginia writes.
Upcoming Trainings & Events
March 16: World Social Work Day
March 21: World Down Syndrome day
April 7: World Health Day
May 12: International Nurses Day
Global Palliative Care and Pain Relief Research Hub (Webinar Series)
Register for this webinar (free): https://mskcc.org/GlobalPalliativeCare
Virtual Asian Mental Health Symposium
Indian Academy of Professional Supervisors (IAPS, https://iapsupervisors.com/) is organizing the Virtual Asian Mental Health Symposium, on 9th and 10th of April, 2022. Pallium India’s Head – Strategic Programmes & Partnerships, Smriti Rana, is one of the speakers.
Click here to know more about the event and to apply: https://www.vamhs.com.au/apply
Check out all upcoming trainings and important days: https://palliumindia.org/events
Contact: info@palliumindia.org
OPENINGS
PALLIUM INDIA, TRIVANDRUM
AZIM PREMJI FOUNDATION
Nurse, Bengaluru
Medical Officer, Bengaluru
EASTERN INDIA PALLIATIVE CARE
Palliative care nurse, Kolkata
DEAN FOUNDATION
Palliative care physician, Chennai
CACHAR CANCER HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE
Palliative Care Physician, Silchar
VISIT OUR CAREERS PAGE:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career
In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org
Patients and families from anywhere in India can call Pallium India’s Telehealth helpline. Health care professionals who need advice on palliative care or pain management can call this number.
The service is FREE and available in English, Hindi, Malayalam and Tamil.
Our lines are open from Monday to Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 4pm
Call: +91 964 588 4889 / +91 860 688 4889
In case of queries, please write to us: info@palliumindia.org
Pallium India maintains a state-wise directory of institutions offering palliative care services in India. The list includes palliative care providers from community-based organisations to tertiary care institutions and cancer care centers.
The directory covers critical information like contact details including phone numbers and email addresses, availability of In-patient, Out-patient and home care services, availability of morphine, etc.
If anyone you know needs palliative care support, our directory will help you find the centre closest to you. Do take a look at Pallium India’s Palliative Care Directory and let us know (Email: info@palliumindia.org or Contact us) if any centre near you is missing.
Click here to donate to Pallium India and lend a hand to our activities.
Donations from US can be made online on http://palliumindiausa.org/
For DOMESTIC Transfer:
Beneficiary: Pallium India Trust
Account No: 30086491915
State Bank of India
Branch: Pattom, Trivandrum
IFS Code: SBIN0003355
MICR No: 695002007
For FOREIGN donations:
Account Name: Pallium India Trust
Bank: State Bank of India (code: 00691)
Branch: Delhi
Account No: 40098265669
IFSC Code: SBIN0000691
SWIFT Code: SBININBB104
Queries? Write to info@palliumindia.org or call 97467 45504
Follow us for palliative care news, views and updates – as & when they happen
SAHAYATRA
Sahayatra, Pallium India’s monthly print magazine in Malayalam, is meant for anyone interested in Palliative Care – patients, families, palliative care professionals, volunteers and well-wishers.
Yearly subscription rate for Sahayatra is ₹200. (Only ₹500 if you subscribe for three years.) However, we send Sahayatra free of cost to patients and their families.
To subscribe to Sahayatra monthly magazine, please send your complete postal address to info@palliumindia.org. Contact: 97467 45504
Read previous issues of Sahayatra online: https://palliumindia.org/sahayatra
PARTING SHOT
Why are you not depressed?
GPEC (Global Palliative Care Education Initiative) at UCSF (University of California, San Francisco, department of palliative medicine) and Pallium India have been engaging with each other for a couple of years now. On 13 February 2022, they screened the Hippocratic at their institute as a way of introducing their faculty and trainees to global health and suffering.
During the active discussion that followed the screening, attendees asked many questions. The following was a significant question:
“In the face of such severe suffering, how do palliative care workers continue to work without getting depressed?”
This question makes us think of the suffering that we, the palliative care workers in India, see every day that is unbelievably cruel. Why are we not getting depressed? Why are we not burned out? I think the answer is that the amount of satisfaction that we get from our work is really proportional to the depth of the suffering. Words cannot describe the happiness that a palliative care worker feels when somebody who is begging to be euthanized today, sits up day after tomorrow, smiles and starts enjoying breakfast.
Thank you Dr. Marcia Glass and colleagues for your compassion that makes you reach out beyond your national borders to wherever suffering is.
Thank you for reading our newsletter. Read previous issues here
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