Published on: March 3, 2025

The 32nd IAPCON 2025, hosted by IAPC Jammu & Kashmir in collaboration with AIIMS Jammu, centered on the theme “Evidence-Based Palliative Care.” Pallium India participated in the event with an eighteen member team from different working fields including clinical, research, social works & community engagement, education and facilitation. 

I was privileged to receive a travel grant from IAHPC to be part of this event. I am thankful for the opportunity to attend this event and connect with different stakeholders to enhance the palliative care work in my region. All the sessions including the pre-conference workshops offered insightful learning. I chose to participate in the pre-conference workshop on “Spirituality in Palliative Care – The Namaste of Caring”. The session explored spiritual assessment tools through case studies, deepening insights into psychosocial interventions.

Some of the sessions in the conference that I could learn from included 

  1. Establishing palliative care services across hospitals, corporates, NGOs, and government institutions, addressing challenges in implementation. 
  2. The role of cannabinoids in pain relief was discussed, emphasizing safe administration and risks of misuse.
  3. For me, the stand out session wasA standout session, “The Elephant in the Room,” moderated by Dr. Sunil Kumar, tackled sexual health concerns in chronic illness, with insights from an HIV/AIDS counselor, a gynecologist, and a marital counselor. With a background of a social worker and a special interest in working directly for patients, I could get valuable insights in addressing this vital issue with the palliative care patients
  4. The Neuro-Palliative Care session covered dementia, childhood epilepsy, and muscular dystrophy, providing new perspectives on neurological disorders in palliative care. 
  5. Dr. Frank Ferris spoke on leadership in palliative care, while Dr. Megan Doherty emphasized integration into primary healthcare using WHO guidelines.
  6. Therapeutic approaches like yoga and music therapy were explored, with Dr. Tara Rajendran’s live music therapy demonstration a highlight. 
  7. The plenary session of Dr. Mhoira Leng on palliative care in war zones, focused on the ongoing crisis in Gaza and humanitarian support. This session was an eye opener for the atrocities and challenges being faced by healthcare workers and masses in the war prone zones
  8. One of the sessions also showcased palliative care developments in Jammu & Kashmir’s government institutions, reflecting steady progress. 

Overall, IAPCON 2025 provided valuable insights into innovations, challenges, and the evolving landscape of palliative care.

Once again, I would like to thank IAHPC for the grant which allowed me to travel for this learning event. Attending the conference as a Pallium India team member supported by IAHPC has been an honour.

Written By: John Surya (Regional Facilitation Team, Pallium India)

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