Published on: August 31, 2025

On 18th July 2025, I had the opportunity to join a state-level consultation workshop on Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and Childhood NCDs, organised by the National Health Mission (NHM), Maharashtra in Mumbai.

The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders – health department officials, programme managers, public health experts, and representatives of organisations working across the NCD spectrum. Together, we reviewed progress, discussed challenges, and explored strategies to strengthen NCD care in the state.

An important part of the discussions was recognising palliative care as an integral component of comprehensive NCD management. I was glad to contribute perspectives on how early integration of palliative care can improve the quality of life for people living with serious health conditions, including cancer and advanced NCDs. Experiences from the field and examples of collaborations across India helped enrich the conversation.

What stood out was the spirit of openness and willingness among participants to consider new ways of working together. The exchange of ideas around training and capacity building for palliative care was particularly encouraging.

Forums like these remind us of the power of collective effort. By bringing diverse voices together, they pave the way for solutions that are not only effective but also inclusive – ensuring that people and families living with NCDs receive care that addresses both medical and human needs.