November 2024
Foundation Stone Laid for Pallium India’s New Home
In a significant step towards providing comprehensive palliative care to those in need, the foundation stone for the much-anticipated Pallium India Home was laid on October 5, 2024, by Justice Devan Ramachandran, Judge, Kerala High Court, in the presence of Kadakampally Surendran, MLA, the chief guest and Mr S M Vijayanand, former chief secretary.
The event was graced by distinguished guests and other dignitaries, medical professionals, volunteers and supporters of Pallium India. Real time sign language interpretation was done by Shri Vinayachandran. The program was live streamed on Pallium India’s Facebook page.
We wholeheartedly thank everyone who has supported us and walked beside us through our journey.
We’re thrilled to announce that Pallium India has been certified a Great Place To Work!
Himachal Pradesh’s Health Minister and senior bureaucrats visit Pallium India
A senior delegation from Himachal Pradesh, led by Health Minister Col. (Dr.) Dhani Ram Shandil, visited Pallium India in Kerala from October 23-26, 2024. The goal of this visit was to take a firsthand look at Kerala’s successful community palliative care model and Pallium India’s work, providing insights the team could potentially apply back in Himachal Pradesh.
The delegation, which included key officials from Himachal Pradesh’s health sector—Health Secretary Ms. M Sudha Devi, Mission Director NHM-HP Ms. Priyanka Verma, Deputy Mission Director NHM-HP Dr. Gopal Beri, Director of Medical Education and Research HP Dr. Rakesh Sharma, and State Program Officer (NCD) NHM HP Dr. Anadi Gupt—visited Pallium India’s head office and the Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS).
Where community is key: Himachal Pradesh to replicate Kerala’s palliative care model: Times of India
Video: Mathrubhumi news report
Welcome to a new edition of Pallium India’s newsletter. Thank you for joining us. Here you can find updates from the palliative care world, upcoming events including training for professionals and volunteers, interesting articles, career opportunities and so on.
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We mourn the profound loss of Dr. Robert Twycross – a giant upon whose shoulders generations of Palliative Care providers stand today.
A visionary and pioneer in the hospice and palliative care movement since the 70’s, Dr. Twycross’s service, mentorship and guidance significantly influenced the course of global palliative care.
Dr. Twycross taught in more than 50 countries and held many senior academic titles from around the world. He was a founding author of the Palliative Care Formulary and authored numerous papers and chapters on palliative care.
He also edited several books, including the highly successful and well-established introductory text “Introducing Palliative Care ”.
He contributed to the adoption of a more rational approach to the management of pain, and also to the WHO Cancer Pain Analgesic Ladder.
His legacy inspires us to continue advocating for holistic, patient-centered approaches in palliative care.
Thank you for everything, Dr. Twycross.
We wish you fair wind, blue skies and safe harbour.
When Deirdre and Dr Robert Twycross visited Pallium India in 2016
Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India
| Beneficiaries reached till September 2024: | 27,064 | |
| Palliative Care centres / services catalysed: | 211 | |
| Stakeholders trained (virtual and onsite): | 10,853 |
World Hospice & Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) celebrations
Pallium India
Pallium India celebrated World Hospice & Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) at Lagoona Beach resort, Thiruvananthapuram, on October 12, 2024. The event was inaugurated by Ms. Gilly Burn and Pallium India’s beneficiary Mr. Rajesh.
Patients and their family members delivered moving testimonials, offering insight into the profound, life-changing impact that palliative care has had on their personal journeys.
Mr. Binod Hariharan, Chairman of Pallium India, and Dr. Sunil Kumar, Director-in-Charge of Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS) addressed the gathering.
For more photographs from the event, follow our Facebook page
Delhi
A workshop was conducted by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital on the occasion of World Hospice & Palliative Care Day on 14th October at Delhi.
This event was organised by Dr. Bimla Sharma, Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. Ms. Gilly Burn was the guest of honour and Dr. Vikas Divyakirti was a special guest.
AIIMS Delhi conducted a public lecture and panel discussion on the occasion of World Hospice and Palliative care day on 15th October.
National speakers had a panel discussion on Advance Care Planning and Living Wills to raise awareness among patients, caregivers and health professionals.
Syed Askari, Pallium India’s Regional Facilitator in Delhi, joined the celebrations in the city.
Haridwar
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) – 12 October 2024 – was celebrated on 14 October in the district women hospital Haridwar.
All the doctors, nurses and paramedical staff of the hospital including its Principal Medical Superintendent, Dr CP Tripathi participated in the program. Palliative Care physician of Ganga Prem Hospice, Dr. Taranjit talked about the importance of palliative care as the keynote speaker.
Pallium India’s Regional Facilitator, Rajendra Dutt Bijalwan, was invited as a guest speaker and he spoke about the importance of engagement of Panchayat and Community in Palliative Care.
Nagaland
On October 12, 2024, Nagaland joined the global celebration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day at St. Joseph Pain and Palliative Care Centre (SJPC) in the city of Chumoukedima.
The Chief Guest, Dr Akuo Sorhie, Director of Nagaland National Health Mission highlighted the progress in palliative care over the past decade and the ongoing need for accessible services.
The Guest of Honour, Dr Limatula Aier, Chief Medical Officer of Dimapur, addressed the significance of palliative care, especially considering changing family dynamics and migration out of in Nagaland.
Rontu Sangma, Regional Facilitator for NEI, Pallium India, spoke at the occasion.
A technical session titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Palliative Care in Naga Society” was moderated by Dr Tony Vikas Bishwas, HoD, Palliative Care Department, CIHSR.
Stay tuned for palliative care news, views and updates
International
1st Emirates Palliative Care Conference
Dr Rajagopal spoke at the 1st Emirates Palliative Care Conference 2024 at Abu Dhabi on “Gently shaking the world: 30 years of palliative care, A legacy of relieving suffering”.
The 1st Emirates Palliative Care Conference, hosted by Burjeel Holdings on 19 and 20 October, 2024, brought together world-renowned experts to explore the latest developments in palliative care.
World’s largest palliative care ECHO session
Dr Sreedevi Warrier (Head – Education & Skill Building, Pallium India) represented India as a panelist at the McGill International Palliative Care Congress 2024, one of the premier global events in the field.
In a special one-hour session organized by Pallium Canada, the world’s largest palliative care ECHO session brought together healthcare professionals from seven countries: the UK, the USA, Canada, Brazil, Kenya, Spain, and India. Thousands of attendees joined online, while many more gathered in person at the venue in Montreal.
Indonesia International Cancer Conference
The first Indonesia International Cancer Conference was held in Nusa Dua, Bali between Oct 3rd and 5th 2024 in Bali, Indonesia. This was an in-person event, themed “Bridging North and South”, reflecting the commitment to fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange between different regions of the world in the fight against cancer.
Smriti Rana (Head of Strategic Partnerships and Programs, Pallium India) was invited to deliver a Keynote address, and to take part in a panel about Advancing Palliative care through Collaboration and Policy Reform.
The event was inaugurated by Budi Gunadi Sadikin (Indonesian Health Minister), Rafael Mariano Grossi (Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency) and General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (Director-General of the World Health Organization).
The influence of colonialism on the pain relief access abyss
How did we reach a point where one of the oldest medicines in the world is so hard to access in a country where it has been cultivated and used medically for centuries? And what causes the access abyss between the global north, primarily erstwhile colonisers, and the global south, entirely comprised of previously colonised countries?
Opium’s use throughout history has been extensively documented. But its entry into the arena as a feared and controversial ‘drug’ only happened in the 19th century. Papaver somniferum, the opium poppy, transformed from traditional medicine used in small quantities into a currency of political economy alongside another main character—the deceptively innocent Camellia sinensis, or tea. These plants triggered a series of events that shifted the global power balance. Amitav Ghosh ’s ‘Smoke and Ashes’ dives deep into how this came to be and illuminates some dark corners of colonial legacy.
Video of the Month
Justice Devan Ramachandran addresses the gathering at Pallium India’s Foundation Stone ceremony
Click here to watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCuD_2r82c
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.
NATIONAL
Importance of Communication discussed at R-PPALCON-2024
Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at the Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (DU), in collaboration with Golden Butterflies, organised R-PPALCON-2024 from August 30 to September 1, 2024.
Enhancing Opioid Availability
in Assam
On August 22, 2024, an online awareness program was held to address the critical issue of opioid availability in Assam, bringing together key stakeholders from the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) of Assam, prominent palliative care organizations, and medical professionals.
A Journey of Learning, Collaboration, and Celebration
The National Facilitation team of Pallium India embarked on a 10-day visit to Kerala, where they had the opportunity to exchange knowledge, visit key healthcare facilities, and celebrate Kerala’s rich cultural heritage.
Bridging Gaps: Expanding Access to Cancer Care in India
The ECHO India Partner Launch Training & TOT (Training of Trainers) event, held on October 8th and 9th, 2024, at The Suryaa, New Delhi, was a pivotal moment in India’s journey towards improving cancer care. The event brought together healthcare professionals, experts, and stakeholders to discuss, train, and collaborate on expanding access to quality cancer care across the country. Pallium India was represented by Dr. Preeti Chauhan, Sr Sheeba, and Dr. Hashmath Farhaana.
Mannotsava 2024 – Mental Health Festival in Bengaluru
On 26th and 27th October, NIMHANS hosted the National Mental Health Festival, in collaboration with National Centre for Biological Sciences and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies.
Pallium India’s Smriti Rana was part of a panel on the Invisibilisation of Mental Disabilities where she spoke about the invisibilisation of pain, caregiving and grief at a societal level.
The Hindu In Focus Podcast
Dr M Rajagopal explains the Centre’s draft guidelines on End of Life Care, the requirements for a living will, why more hospitals should have palliative care centres and why, despite death being a difficult subject, it should be talked about more.
Click here to listen to the podcast
Read more about Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation
(includes Living Will format & FAQs)
Advancing the Law for Advance Medical Directives
Dr Dhvani Mehta writes for Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC):
The law is inextricably intertwined in relation to palliative care, especially in India, not always for the good. The law is misunderstood (“withholding/withdrawing life-sustaining treatment is euthanasia”), it is misinterpreted (“palliative sedation is illegal”), and it is misdirected (“discharging patients against medical advice will protect doctors from liability). This is partly because the legal framework in India on palliative care, specifically end-of-life care and advance medical directives, is confusing. However, it is also because the law has been used as a shield by some sections of the medical community to stave off difficult conversations about death and dying.
AIIMS OPD To Help Out With Living Will
Anuja Jaiswal writes for the Times of India:
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is set to start an OPD to educate and assist patients about advanced medical directives (AMD) that give them the right to choose the course of their treatment in case their recovery is not possible. These directives to health professionals include a living will, power of attorney and do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. Dr Sushma Bhatnagar, professor and chief of Dr BRA, IRCH, stressed the importance of raising awareness about these directives as many people are unfamiliar with them. AMD forms will be readily available at the AIIMS counter, allowing individuals to notarise them independently, similar to a property will.
Upcoming Trainings
Reports / News / Articles
Caring for Children with Life-Limiting Conditions
On September 29, 2024, Pallium India, in collaboration with Kudumbashree’s Disability Mainstreaming Program, organised a pediatric medical camp at Buds School, Venganoor.
EOLC draft guidelines, Living Wills and the concept of Death Café
Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science and Studies (AMCHSS), Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram, in collaboration with Pallium India, conducted a discussion regarding Living Wills, End of Life Care, Death Café, on 16th October 2024.
The event was organised in connection with World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) 2024, which fell on October 12.
Heartiest Congratulations to Government Medical College, Thrissur – the winners of the video competition, organised by Pallium India’s Education and Skill Building department, as part of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) 2024 celebrations, this October.
Bedsheets and other woes
4:30 a.m. The room is dark. In the middle is a bed on which lies a woman in deep, peaceful sleep. Her daughter gently snores from the thin cot on one side, close to the wall.
The door bursts open and two women barge in. They snap on all the lights with as much strength as they could apply on the little switches. The person in the centre of the room is jolted awake and looks around, stupefied, bewildered. The other almost falls off her bed, confused, alarmed.
“Let’s change the sheets!” the visitors announce in a loud, sing-song voice. Thus begins the early morning ritual in the private hospital ward – the patient is deftly rolled this way and that, wiped clean, gown changed, sheets changed, bed adjusted, and within ten minutes, the friendly intruders exit the room.
Jeena R. Papaadi (Manager-Communications, Pallium India) writes for ehospice India. Continue Reading >>
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Work for Palliative Care
Palliative Care Physician at PalCare, Mumbai
Palliative Care Nurse at PalCare, Mumbai
Nursing Staff In-charge at Sneh Sawali Care Centre, Aurangabad
Staff Nurse at Pallium India, Thiruvananthapuram
Assistant Manager – Social Work at Pallium India, Thiruvananthapuram
For more openings, visit our CAREERS page:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career
In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org
Book of the Month
Illness As Metaphor & AIDS and its Metaphors
Susan Sontag
Susan Sontag (1933-2004) was an American writer, critic, cultural analyst, human rights activist, filmmaker and more.
A cancer patient herself when she was writing the book, Susan Sontag shows how the metaphors and myths surrounding certain illnesses, especially cancer, add greatly to the suffering of patients and often inhibit them from seeking proper treatment. By demystifying the fantasies surrounding cancer, Sontag shows cancer for what it is – just a disease. Cancer, she argues, is not a curse, not a punishment, certainly not an embarrassment and, it is highly curable, if good treatment is followed.
Walk with the Weary – ‘smashing myths to pieces’
“മനസ്സിൽ തട്ടുന്ന ജീവിത കാഴ്ചകളുടെ വായനാനുഭവം തീർച്ചയായും സമ്മാനിക്കാൻ കഴിയുന്ന, അറിവുകൾ ധാരാളം പകർന്ന് കിട്ടുന്ന, ധാരണകൾ തിരുത്തിക്കുറിക്കുന്ന ഒരു പുസ്തകം പരിചയപ്പെടുത്തട്ടെ. ദാ ഇതാ, ഡോ. രാജഗോപാൽ സാറിൻ്റെ “സ്നേഹം സാന്ത്വനം” ” – സലീന
“We’re often taught that emotions hold us back, that empathy weighs us down from being efficient. But Dr. Raj smashes that myth to pieces. He is living proof that feeling deeply can co-exist with unparalleled professionalism, that empathy is not a hindrance but a strength and highly efficient tool to collectively uplift a patient.” – Vachasamrita Saiju, Cofounder & Chairperson, Lupus Trust India
Palliative Care Telehealth
Call us: +91 964 588 4889 / +91 860 688 4889
PARTING SHOT
A Journey of Compassion: My Palliative Care Story
Dr. Manju Rose writes:
As a palliative care doctor, I have had the privilege of supporting patients and their families through some of the most challenging moments of their lives. Since 2018, my journey in palliative care has been shaped by countless stories of love, loss, and resilience.
Tanuku Municipality, the fourth largest Urban Local Body (ULB) in West Godavari District, Andhra Pradesh, spans an area of 24.83 sq. km and has a population of 90,430 (as per the 2011 census). While the town is recognized for its Rocket Fuel Manufacturing Unit, it currently lacks a dedicated palliative care center to cater to the needs of its growing population.
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