Palliative Care in Andhra Pradesh
Key Insights from Field Visit
Regional Facilitator for Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Andaman & Nicobar, Spandana shares insights from her first field visit to Andhra Pradesh on the 10th and 11th of October 2025. Spandana had the opportunity to engage with NHM officials and several healthcare institutions. This visit helped her understand the current palliative care landscape and identify meaningful opportunities to strengthen and expand palliative care services across Andhra Pradesh.
NHM Andhra Pradesh
At NHM, discussions with Dr. Shyamala, NCD Head and Dr. Narsimha (Nodal officer) focused on integrating palliative care across districts and support in encouraging doctors and Nurses for training under BPCL project. NHM expressed strong support and agreed to nominate doctors and 30 nurses from each district for foundational palliative care courses.
NATCO Guntur
At NATCO Hospital, Dr. Durga Prasad highlighted their IP, OP, and home-based palliative care services. Challenges remain in procuring morphine, along with the need to expand training partnerships across the state. Public awareness and official prioritization are still major gaps.
St. Joseph Hospital
St. Joseph Hospital emphasized the importance of home-based care, but shared challenges related to staffing, finance, and transport. The team currently conducts home visits once or twice a week and is exploring options for resource mobilization.
AIIMS Mangalagiri
AIIMS Mangalagiri has a well-functioning palliative care unit with 6 beds and strong home-based service supported by CIPLA Foundation. The team conducts around 144 home visits monthly and is seeking sponsorship to strengthen home-care support.
Conclusion
The visit offered a clear picture of both progress and challenges in palliative care across Andhra Pradesh. While there is strong interest and positive initiatives underway, key gaps remain in workforce training, opioid access, home-care resources, and community awareness. Strengthening collaborations and scaling capacity-building efforts will be essential for expanding quality palliative care throughout the state.
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