Published on: November 1, 2025

On 11th October 2025, the Department of Radiation Oncology at SKIMS, Srinagar, organized the first-of-its-kind CME on Palliative Care in Kashmir to mark World Hospice and Palliative Care Day. The event aimed to raise awareness among clinicians and healthcare professionals about integrating palliative care into routine healthcare, particularly in tertiary cancer centers.

The scientific program featured expert talks on clinical, psychosocial, and community-based palliative care. Dr. Hashmath Farhana from Pallium India presented on home-based palliative care, sharing insights into delivering compassionate care where it matters most. Dr. Arjun Devarajan, also from Pallium India, spoke on mitigating serious health-related suffering in India, emphasizing the Total Pain model, challenges in access and opioid availability, and the importance of early integration of palliative care in tertiary settings.

Both Dr. Farhana and Dr. Arjun participated as panelists in the concluding discussion, exploring barriers to palliative care integration, interdepartmental collaboration, referral pathways, and community-based models. The session fostered interactive dialogue, with SKIMS clinicians showing keen interest in strengthening palliative care services.

The CME successfully enhanced awareness among faculty and trainees, reinforced collaboration between SKIMS and Pallium India, and highlighted the essential role of palliative care in comprehensive cancer and chronic illness management.