Published on: January 19, 2024

ASCOMS Batra hospital organised a seminar to create awareness on palliative care among the medical professionals of their hospital and staff. The program was coordinated by Dr. Nandita Mehta, Head of Anaesthesiology, ASCOMS Hospital.

Gilly Burn, the visiting faculty from UK, gave her session on the need of palliative care in India.  J&K Drug Controller, Ms. Lotika Khajuria was also invited as a Guest of Honor for this program and Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Dean and Principal of Batra Hospital was the Chief Guest.

Ms. Gilly Burn gave an enthralling session on the need of palliative care. Following that, the J&K Drug Controller, Ms. Lotika Khajuria, supporting the need of palliative care, explained the process of procurement of the Essential Narcotics Drugs (ENDs) to the group. She was well aware about the need of opioids to relieve the pain of suffering patients. She explained the significance of applying for an RMI (Recognized Medical Institution) to procure Essential Narcotics Drugs (ENDs). Her thoughtful and encouraging session clearly explained how each medical institute can apply for an RMI certificate through a simplified process and can procure opioids for their patients.

Shortly after the meeting, on November 7, 2023, J&K Drug Controller’s office published the procedure and guidelines for submitting an RMI application in the Jammu daily Excelsior Newspaper.

(Image: Published in the Daily Excelsior. Click on the image to enlarge.)

We extend our heartfelt thanks for her relentless support in creating awareness about the RMI process and joining hands against the unnecessary pain & suffering of patients. We also thank ASCOM Hospital for arranging a platform to have this much needed discussion on palliative care and opioids. And we thank our palliative care pioneer from UK, Ms. Gilly Burn for travelling to far off places and giving these influencing sessions to promote palliative care.

(Report prepared by Syed Askari, Regional Facilitator, Pallium India.)