April 2025
Pallium India’s Food Festival has begun at YWCA Hall ,Spencer Junction, Thiruvananthapuram. Please visit if you are nearby!
Dates: April 4th & 5th, 2025.
Time: 10 am to 5:30pm.
Every rupee you spend will go towards our patient care activities.
Change In Leadership
Pallium India wishes to announce the departure of Mr. Raj Kalady as Chief Executive Officer. Following three years of transformative leadership, Raj Kalady has decided to step down to dedicate more time to personal pursuits. Throughout his tenure, Raj Kalady has been instrumental in driving our growth and success and we are deeply grateful for his contributions to the organisation. He will be continuing with the organization as a member of its Executive Committee. Demonstrating his ongoing commitment, he has agreed to volunteer his time to guarantee the successful completion of the Pallium India Home project and to secure vital funds for the organization’s future operations. The current Chairman, Mr Binod Hariharan will take on the additional responsibilities of CEO until a suitable candidate is found.
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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India Giving Day: Highlights
As a first time participant, we are glad to announce, out of 37 participating Non-Profits, Pallium India finished at No.4 as per India Giving Day Leaderboard. Our Fundraising Goal: $50,000,we achieved: 79% In Total, we ended up raising ($39, 382). With a Donor Count of 213.
Read more>>>
Comedy For Compassion: Stand up Comedy Night At Bay Area
What an incredible night! Comedy for Compassion on March 14, 2025, was a resounding success, leaving everyone with smiles, full hearts, and a renewed sense of purpose. Hosted by Pallium India USA in collaboration with Relief from Cancer, as part of India Giving Day, the event combined comedy, charity, and community spirit to make a meaningful difference — and it truly delivered!
International
India at UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs
In a first, India chaired the prestigious UN-backed Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) and pledged to commit to improving global and domestic pain relief and palliative care access.
At the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) 68th session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs (CND) meeting held in Vienna, India chaired the pivotal session in which it emphasized the necessity of opioids for medical purposes and the country’s significant strides in this area.
The Government Opium and Alkaloid Factories, under the Ministry of Finance, prominently featured palliative care and pain management in their brochure. Additionally, Dr. Amirtha, (Clinical Head of Pallium India), was showcased providing care to a patient at the CND event.
Dr. Parth Sharma, also representing Pallium India, attended the event as a delegate from the UNODC’s Young Doctors Network.
Millions in India lack access to essential pain relief. Pallium India welcomes the Indian Delegation’s pledge at the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to address this gap and improve palliative care access.
Link to Detailed Article: The New Indian Express
Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine
The webinar on dignity in care was well-received by participants. Hosted by Dr. Harvey Max Chochinov,(Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry, University of Manitoba, Senior Scientist, Cancare Manitoba Research Institute). The webinar took place over two days, on March 24th and 26th, with sessions lasting ninety minutes each. More than 200 participants attended the webinar, and on the final day, an opportunity were provided to the attendees to come to the stage and share their thoughts. This engagement led to a lot of excitement and positive feedback about the webinar.
The first day explored the foundational aspects of dignity in care, distribution of sense in dignity in care, focusing on the Patient Dignity Question (PDQ). On the second day, discussions deepened, reflecting on the journey associated with dignity in care where. Dr. Rajagopal spoke about “Dignity in Care in the Indian Context”. The webinar concluded with a “Q&A” session.
Dr. Sunil Kumar MM, Director of TIPS, facilitated the sessions on both days, representing Pallium India. The sessions were introduced on consecutive days by Sreepriya and Gayathri from the Education and Skill Building Team at Pallium India.
Watch the full recording of the session on:
National
Launch of Singapore-India PACT Project
The Indian Medical Association Hall in Kochi buzzed with excitement on March 3rd, 2025, as Pallium India and the Singapore International Foundation (SIF) officially launched the Palliative Care Accessibility Core Training (PACT) project.
Read more>>>
RISE 2025: Longevity India Conference
RISE for Healthy Aging Conference is a unique event that brings together leaders from academia, industry, clinical practice, and policy-making. This 3-day international conference from March 10th – 12th 2025 addressed the opportunities and challenges in healthy aging, providing a collaborative environment for knowledge-sharing.
Read more>>>
A Learning Visit to Hyderabad
Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society (PRPCS) in Hyderabad is an NGO well known for their accomplishments in the field of Palliative Care. Their collaboration with the National Health Mission (NHM) of Telangana resulted in the initiation of palliative care services in 33 district hospitals in the state.
In an effort to understand this model of palliative care in the government sector, Pallium India’s facilitation team comprising John Surya (Regional Facilitator-South) and Shalini AJ (National Head-Facilitation) visited Kumudini Devi Hospice. The objective was to learn a new model of setting up palliative care units in government institutes, from the leading palliative care experts.
‘Dying with Dignity’: India Today Conclave
The India Today Conclave 2025 brought together an eclectic mix of experts to discuss the legal, medical and spiritual aspects of an individual’s right to die with dignity. The conclave was held over two days: March 7th & 8th at the Taj Palace New Delhi.
Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India
| Beneficiaries reached till March 2025: | 28,244 | |
| Palliative Care centres / services catalysed: | 211 | |
| Stakeholders trained (virtual and onsite): | 11,424 |
Upcoming Events, Trainings & Conferences
ECOSOC YOUTH FORUM
APRIL 16TH, 9AM (EST)
Openings
For more openings, visit our CAREERS page:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career
In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org
Stay tuned for palliative care news, views and updates
Reports / News / Articles
Empowering Young Changemakers: Highlights
Taking Palliative Care to the Streets: SIPC Awareness Drive at Thampanoor (March 5, 2025)
In a vibrant public awareness initiative, our team took palliative care conversations beyond hospital walls and into the heart of the city. At Thampanoor Bus Stand, volunteers and social workers engaged commuters, spreading awareness about “Students Initiative in Palliative Care” (SIPC)—a movement to ensure dignity, comfort, and rights for those facing life-limiting illnesses. The flash mob event drew curiosity and meaningful conversations, reinforcing the urgency of palliative care in public spaces.
A Haven of Hope: BCH (Tezpur, Assam)
On March 2, 2025, Baptist Christian Hospital (BCH) in Tezpur, Assam, marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of its upgraded 15-bedded Palliative Care Ward. This monumental achievement brought to fruition through a strategic partnership with Rotary International and the Rotary Club of Greater Tezpur, reflects a collective commitment to transforming healthcare delivery and supporting communities in need. The inauguration ceremony poignantly reminded attendees of the power of collaboration and compassion. Attendees included representatives from the Rotary Club, Baptist Christian Hospital, Pallium India, and like-minded organizations, all united by a shared vision. Among the event’s highlights was a virtual address by Ms. Gilly Burn, Founder and Director of Cancer Relief India, whose words inspired attendees to continue their mission of alleviating suffering.
Death has a new meaning in Urban India!
Vandana Mahajan writes:
As I interact and speak to people dying of cancer I have come to infer that death or end of life has a different meaning for those who are living in urban India and a very different meaning for those who live in rural India.
One of the facts about being at EOL when cancer is beyond being treated is that the shutting down of the body and its functions is an irreversible process. Supportive treatment can help alleviate the suffering/ side effects and the pain caused by the progressing cancer but it can’t prevent someone’s death.
Video of the Month
‘Dignity in Care: The Human Side of Medicine‘
Click here to watch the video: Dignity In Care: Part 1
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.
Join us in making India pain-free! Subscribe to our newsletter for updates.
Book of the Month
Opium Inc. by Thomas Manuel
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Opium Inc. by Thomas Manuel explores the complex and dark world of the global opium trade. The book delves into the history, economics, and politics surrounding the cultivation, production, and trafficking of opium, focusing particularly on its impact on countries like India and Afghanistan. It examines the interplay between governments, drug cartels, and law enforcement, while shedding light on the human costs of addiction, violence, and social instability.
The book offers a detailed look at how the opium trade has shaped global policies, economies, and cultures.
Walk with the Weary – by Dr M R Rajagopal
A masterclass in how to care for others deeply and compassionately no matter who they are, Walk with the Weary is simultaneously the story of Dr Rajagopal’s life and his calling and the world of Indian palliative care.
Palliative Care Telehealth
Call us: +91 964 588 4889 /
+91 860 688 4889
Sacred Transitions: witnessing palliative care beside Kathmandu’s cremation pyres
On a recent visit to Nepal for the International Conference on Palliative Care for All in Rural Nepal, Jane Bates, Smriti Rana, Chitra Venkateswaran and Tania Pastrana step outside and find life and death co-existing.
Read: Sacred Transitions: witnessing palliative care beside Kathmandu’s cremation pyres
Blog Published by EAPC (European Association for Palliative Care)
PARTING SHOT
Not a War
By Vandana Mahajan
They say I fought a war…I never went to one
Then who did?
They say I was in a battle, I never wanted to be a part of ,
Then who sent me to it?
They say I am a warrior, I never chose to be one!
Then who am I? I remain ME’..
Being diagnosed with cancer Did not change my identity …Can’t I just BE? No battles , no wars…
the expectations to win,
Make the cancer journey more grim!
There is no ammo, there are no guns,
Some get a chance to liveSome none. Let me stay with the truth ,
To LIVE is everyone’s WILL,
Each tries their best,
Sometimes, destiny in HIS hands rests.
Don’t call this journey a battle or a war,
I am not a warrior, Just an ordinary human scared and scarred,Don’t say I won or lost,
Cancer is a disease not a war!
This poem was published originally as a part of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)’s initiative ‘Rhythms of the Heart: A Collection of Poems’.
(Vandana Mahajan is a Palliative care counsellor with over ten years of experience in counselling and providing psychological support to cancer patients and their families. She is a passionate patient advocate and a dear friend of Pallium India.)
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