July 2024
Welcome to a new edition of Pallium India’s newsletter. If you are a new subscriber, 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. Read previous issues of the newsletter.
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Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM) and Pallium India sign MoU
In a historic milestone for palliative care development in the region, two WHO Collaborating Centres that have worked in parallel for over a decade have joined hands to improve access to pain management and palliative care in India and the Southeast Asia Region.
The Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM) and Pallium India have been deeply invested in the development and integration of palliative care in the country at all levels.
IPM is WHO Collaborating Centre for Building Country Capacity in Palliative Care and Long-Term Care. Pallium India’s flagship demonstration program – the Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS) is a WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief.
The WHOCCs, represented by their Heads – Dr. Suresh Kumar (IPM) and Ms. Smriti Rana (TIPS) – have signed an MoU through which the two pioneering organisations of palliative care in India will come together to work in areas of mutual interest at the organisational, national, and regional levels.
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KUHS honours Dr M R Rajagopal
Kerala University of Health Sciences (KUHS) awarded honorary doctorate to three persons who made their mark in the science and technology sector.
Governor Arif Mohammed Khan awarded the doctorate to Dr M.R. Rajagopal, Founder & Chairman Emeritus, Pallium India; Dr P. Madhavankutty Warrier, managing trustee and chief physician of Kottakkal Arya Vaidya Sala; and Dr S. Somanath, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
Advance Medical Directives (AMD) / Living Will and an Upcoming Webinar
In 2018, the Supreme Court of India, in Common Cause v Union of India, recognised that the right to die with dignity is a fundamental right protected by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
The Supreme Court laid down guidelines for different actions related to care and medical treatment at the end-of-life.
Any person above the age of 18 can make an Advance Medical Directive or Living Will to plan for a time in the future when they might no longer be able to take decisions about their healthcare.
An Advance Care Planning Taskforce was convened in February 2024, bringing together a group of people under the aegis of the Indian Association for Palliative Care. This group has begun working on a nationwide campaign to improve death literacy through a multi-pronged approach targeting multiple stakeholders – policymakers, professionals and the public.
To this end, the Vidhi Center for Legal Policy has created three crucial documents:
- FAQs about End-of-Life Care and the Law in India – Addressing Common Concerns
- End-of-Life Care – A Ready Reckoner
- An updated template of the Advance Medical Directive and Healthcare Attorney Authorisation
Please visit: Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation to know more. In case of queries, please write to us: info@palliumindia.org
Smriti Rana, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief at the Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (the flagship demonstration program of Pallium India) and member of the Task Force, was invited to conduct an awareness program in the Nilgiris. Hosted by the Coonoor Club, this 90-minute event saw 75+ community members in attendance. It was a very interactive session where audience members were made aware of Palliative Care and the importance of Advance Care Planning, and were taken through the latest Advance Medical Directives document.
The information was warmly received, with many pledging to start working on their Living Wills and initiating conversations within their own families.
Several such activities are in the offing, including an online webinar initiated by the Model Palliative Care Division at the Government Medical College, Kollam. The webinar is being hosted by Pallium India and is supported by the Indian Association for Palliative Care.
Date: July 11, 2024
Click here to register for the webinar
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As many as 98 out of every 100 patients with stage-4 cancer are unable to get palliative care in India, said a study, noting that this is despite a national programme on palliative care, which was launched in 2012.
Congratulations, Dr Megan Doherty!
Congratulations to Dr. Megan Doherty who has been appointed as a palliative care consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO).
Her role with the WHO Integrated Health Services in Geneva will focus on developing palliative care training to support the development and integration of palliative care services for countries where this compassionate care is not readily accessible.
Malayalam edition of Dr Rajagopal’s Memoir released
“Sneham Santhwanam” by Dr M R Rajagopal was released by Dr V. Venu IAS (Chief Secretary, Government of Kerala) on June 21, 2024 at the Hassan Marikar Hall in Thiruvananthapuram. The first copy was received by Dr B. Ekbal (author & former Vice Chancellor, University of Kerala).
Get your copy of സ്നേഹം സാന്ത്വനം today!*
“Sneham Santhwanam” is a recreation in Malayalam of Dr. Rajagopal’s memoir “Walk with the Weary,” which depicts his transformative journey in palliative care. Originally published in English in 2022, “Walk with the Weary” has garnered widespread acclaim for its poignant narrative and compassionate insights.
“Sneham Santhwanam” is available in all DC Books and Current Books bookstores across the country.
Click here to purchase Sneham Santhwanam (Malayalam) from Amazon
Purchase “Walk with the Weary” (the original English version)
*Proceeds from the book will go towards Pallium India’s patient care activities.
Events / Trainings / Conferences
World Hospice and Palliative Care Day
The year 2024 marks 10 years since the World Health Assembly (WHO’s Governing Body) passed the only stand-alone resolution on palliative care, calling for all countries to “strengthen palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course.”
6 weeks Certificate Course for doctors & nurses at Trivandrum
October 7, 2024
We invite doctors and nurses to join this six weeks certificate course in pain management and palliative care, at Trivandrum.
Doctors: MBBS or BDS
Nurses: Any recognised degree or certificate in nursing
Last date: July 10, 2024. Apply quickly!
1-year Fellowship in Pediatric Palliative Medicine For South and Southeast Asia, at the Hyderabad Centre for Palliative Care
Essentials of Palliative Care – India (EPCI)
Self-Directed learning course for Nurses and Doctors
Video of the Month
Palliative Care PSA – We’re the fire department, not the fire.
Click here to watch the video: Palliative Care PSA – We’re the fire department, not the fire.
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.
Work for Palliative Care
For more openings across the country, visit our CAREERS page:
https://palliumindia.org/category/career
In case of queries, please write to us: career@palliumindia.org
MASCC 2024 Annual Meet in Lille, Paris, brought researchers from nearly 60 countries together to discuss how to improve supportive care in patients with cancer. Discussions on home based care, promoting patient centric care and multidisciplinary approach to supportive care were highlights of the conference.
Dr Parth Sharma presented an abstract on socioeconomic security profile of patients receiving home-based palliative care in Kerala, based on the work done by Pallium India and Association of Socially Applicable Research (ASAR).
Journal Clubs – Strengthening what you read and learn – a process
Dr Sreejini J. (Head, Research and Innovation, Pallium India) writes:
“We are drowning in information but starved for knowledge” – John Naisbitt
In today’s world, however, information is easily accessible at the fingertip; we are often ignorant and don’t know what to imbibe or not.
The earliest references to a ‘Journal Club’ were found in a book of memoirs and letters by the late Sir James Paget, a British surgeon who describes a group at St. Bartholomew’s hospital in London in the mid-19th century ‘as a kind of club……. a small room over baker’s shop near the Hospital-gate where we could sit and read the journals.’
Pallium India’s research and Innovation (R&I) department started conducting Journal Clubs (JCs) in September 2023. So far, the R&I department has conducted six JCs. Journal Clubs are a new concept at Pallium India, as it initiates educational meetings amongst the staff.
It started with the initiative of groups of staff discussing the published articles to keep themselves well-informed of the new knowledge and to promote awareness of such research findings. JCs enable us to read the journal article in the way it must be done, encourage people to critique and appraise research, and encourage them to utilize such learnings in creating an evidence-based practice of their speciality.
Every JC presentation involves three crucial steps: selecting the right article, reading and critically appraising it, and presenting it to the appropriate audience. The role of the organizers is to choose the most suitable article for the department by going through the abstract, which is a high-level summary. The role of the audience, which includes all staff members, is vital as it ensures that the knowledge gained from the article is disseminated effectively in their practice.
JCs are conducted every two months and presented by the staff of each department. R&I, Social work, Clinical, Facilitation, Education and skill-building departments have presented journals about their fields.
JCs benefit staff at Pallium India personally by motivating them to read scientific journal articles, helping them understand the article, inspiring them in their work and setting a scientific debate practice within the organization. These virtual clubs enable and encourage professionalism among our staff members. However, we expect greater participation from the staff to put a system in place.
Deep Dive into Access to Medicines: Insights and beginning of upcoming blog series on learnings
Dr. Preeti Chauhan, Head of National Policy at Pallium India, recently participated in a comprehensive five-day course titled “Access to Medicines in India: TRIPS Flexibilities and the Path Forward” (June 10th-14th) held at Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi. This program, co-organized by Third World Network-India, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), and the CUSAT IPR Department, focused on critical issues surrounding access to essential medicines in India.
The course delved into the historical context of access to medicines in India, exploring the current landscape and challenges.
On the Frontlines of Community-Based Palliative Care in Kerala
“In February this year, I rode with one of Pallium India’s seven Home Visit teams for a day, and observed as they visited patients and families to administer their unique brand of palliative care. I had accepted an invitation from Dr. M.R. Rajagopal to visit Pallium’s Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS) facility in India’s southwestern state of Kerala. “Mukund, you must come and visit us,” he had told me last year, “It will be an eye-opener for you.” It was certainly that, and so much more!”
A Wellspring Of Joy
“If you ask me whether I would like to walk again, I would say yes, certainly; but it is equally true that my life in the last few years has been more meaningful than it was till the age of 28 when I could walk.”
There are a thousand things that Ashla can no longer do as a quadriplegic but at Pallium India she found her wellspring of joy.
The transformative power of Compassionate Care
By Avtar Singh Cheema, Founder of Palliative Peace
Maneet Kumar, a 34-year-old man, was discovered abandoned on the streets, suffering from a horrific, maggot-infested wound. Neglected by his loved ones, Maneet was left to endure unimaginable pain and face a slow, agonizing death alone. His plight was heart-wrenching until Palliative Peace intervened, rescuing him from his dire situation.
He was taken to Capt. TPS Gill Memorial Care & Support, Sangrur, Punjab, where his wound was meticulously cleaned and managed. Despite these efforts, the severity of his condition necessitated an urgent transfer to a government hospital, where his maggot-filled leg had to be amputated. Amidst this physical and emotional turmoil, Maneet’s spirit remains remarkably resilient.
Now, receiving palliative care, he is on the path to recovery, finding solace and hope in the compassion and support he was so cruelly denied by those who once claimed to love him.
Maneet’s story highlights the critical need for palliative care, a lesson Avtar Singh Cheema, the author of this piece, says he learned from Pallium India. He has seen firsthand the transformative power of compassionate care, making a significant difference in the lives of those suffering from severe and often neglected conditions.
A Day of Learning and Connection
Rontu Sangma, Regional Facilitator – NE, Pallium India, writes:
On the bright and promising morning of May 18, 2024, the NEDFI House in Dispur, Guwahati, Assam, opened its doors to a unique and significant event – the ‘North East Palliative Care Conclave’. This was not just another event; it was a beacon of hope and a milestone in the journey of palliative care in the North East.
Organized by the Cafecare Foundation in association with the Department of Pain & Palliative Medicine, State Cancer Institute (SCI), GMC, this day-long event marked the first of its kind in the region. The conclave was a testament to the growing recognition and importance of palliative care in our society.
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PARTING SHOT
Rithu – Empowering Parents: Finding Strength and Solutions Together
Rajika Kurup, Senior Psychologist, Pallium India, writes about the second Parent Support Group meeting organised at Pallium India:
“Sometimes we need someone to simply be there, not to fix anything in particular, But just to let us feel that we are cared for and supported…”
We are thrilled to share the heart-warming moments and experiences from our recent parent support group meeting held on April 28th, 2024. The turnout was beyond our expectations, with both parents and children eagerly joining in for a day filled with connection, support, and joy.
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Contact us: info@palliumindia.org / 97467 45497
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