Published on: July 19, 2023

On 10th July 2023, Pallium India organised an online session on “Introduction to Palliative Care” for the state of Jharkhand. The event was facilitated by Dr Rutula Sonawane, Palliative care consultant, Bharti hospital Pune & Faculty of Pallium India. The one-hour program was attended by Dr Haren Chandra (In-charge officer NPPC NHM), and Mr Rabindra Rajak (Consultant Finance NHM Jharkhand).

There was a total of 43 participants including doctors, nurses and paramedical staff from various districts of Jharkhand. 

Shalini AJ & Rajendra Dutt Bijalwan, representing Pallium India, welcomed everyone and introduced the agenda of the session. Dr Rutula Sonawane explained Palliative Care in detail.

The following were some of the questions that the participants raised:

• Doctors are reluctant to speak out regarding the status of patients. Family is in a dilemma: how to tackle the situation?
• How should doctors be careful (self-care) about their safety during palliative care?
• Do you have a palliative fellowship in medicine?
• Shalini has requested Dr Haren for training-online or onsite at Ranchi, he said that without training palliative care cannot be started.
• There are many people/ patients in old age homes who require palliative care. Can any NGO help them with palliative care services?
• Dr Rutula explained that any persons / patients with the chronic, life-limiting illness is eligible for palliative care.

Shalini and Dr Rutula answered these questions in detail; all participants received a good understanding of basic palliative care and were interested in learning more. Dr Haren and Mr Rabindra said that they plan to start palliative care services in 12 district hospitals. They will soon work on providing the required training.

(Report prepared by Rajendra Dutt Bijalwan, Regional Facilitator-North India, Pallium India.)