I remember listening to Dr Luis Jose De Souza (fondly called Lucito D’Souza) describe how he came to establish the first palliative care centre in India in 1986 — Shanti Avedna Sadan in Mumbai.

One day Dr De Souza, a surgical oncologist at the famous Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai, discharged a man with an ugly, fungating wound – an illness no longer amenable to curative treatment. The man had no family to take him home. When Dr De Souza arrived at the hospital the next morning, he found the man lying on the pavement outside, rejected by the world, his wound uncovered and untreated. That painful sight gave birth to Shanti Avedna Sadan in 1986.

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While India already has progressive policies—like the National Programme for Palliative Care, guidelines for primary care, and legal reforms for opioid access – far too many people still live without relief. The core issue isn’t lack of ideas, but weak implementation. This article by Smriti Rana, Head – WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief and Strategic Programs and Partnerships, Pallium India, highlights how policy gaps in drug lists, training, financing, and state commitment make palliative care available in name only. Drawing lessons from Kerala’s success and using recent research, it makes a powerful case: we must move beyond writing policies and ensure they reach every patient in need.

Full article here>>

A Story of Access

Meera, a 6-year-old, suffered severe burns in a household accident. Her pain was unbearable, and her mother often cried watching her struggle each night. When our pediatric palliative care team assessed her, we initiated morphine for pain relief. The change was profound—Meera could finally rest peacefully. Her mother, with tears in her eyes, said, ‘After so many months, my child is able to sleep. You have given her comfort and given me strength.’ This is the power of access—ensuring that no child suffers needlessly when pain relief is possible.

Pic: Drawing by Vijayindu, a patient suffering from chronic kidney disease

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The World Health Organization has released its 2025 Guideline on Balanced National Controlled Medicines Policies to Ensure Medical Access and Safety.

These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to help countries develop policies that balance two critical needs:

• ensuring access to essential controlled medicines such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and anti-seizure medicines for those with legitimate medical needs, including palliative care, pain management, and mental health; and
• preventing misuse and diversion that could cause harm.

For India and other low- and middle-income countries, this document is a vital resource to address the vast unmet need for pain relief and palliative care while safeguarding communities. Pallium India welcomes these guidelines as an important step toward achieving universal access to compassionate, safe, and equitable care.

To download the Guideline and read more>>

At first glance, Sister Reena was everything I didn’t associate with palliative care: brisk, loud, endlessly multitasking. But by the end of the day, I realized how wrong I had been. Beneath that dynamism was a deep well of compassion and connection.

I met Sister Reena at Uzhamalakkal, a village around 30 kilometers from Pallium India’s HQ in Thiruvananthapuram. I had accompanied the Home Care team on my second day at Pallium India. We had just made the journey to the OP clinic early in the morning, our Social Officer, Aizaq and driver Vinil hadn’t even had their breakfast. She arrived on her scooty, brimming with energy, juggling a dozen tasks at once — directing us to our first home visit, getting the OP clinic shutter opened, picking up supplies, checking in on the day’s plan with Sister Dinu and the other two while asking if someone had checked in with the new Team Doctor who was to join us. She was the perfect foil to her colleague, the calm and quietly efficient Sister Dinu.

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Join the Global Fellowship in Palliative Medicine (GFPM). 1 Year Hybrid Course offered by the Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), Pallium India. Join the Movement! Become a Global Fellow.

Last day for registrations: 19th October 2025

For details and registrations:

Click Here>>

Dr. Balfour M. Mount, a Canadian physician, surgeon and academic, widely considered as the father of palliative care, passed away on 25 September 2025, in the palliative care unit of the very hospital he helped build, the Royal Victoria Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre.

Dr. M R Rajagopal, Chairman Emeritus, Pallium India, writes:
“I had always wanted to meet this great man. When I was visiting Montreal, Canada, I heard that Mike Hill and Sue Collins of Moonshine agencies had an appointment with him for a video shoot. They allowed me to tag along, and I could have the good fortune to meet him. He had a tracheostomy at that time and had to speak in sync with each exhalation. What a great man! So humble; so knowledgeable; such a visionary. Thank you, Dr Balfour Mount, for all that you did for all of us.”

Pallium India conducted a one-hour interactive session on “Introduction to Palliative Care” at the Military Hospital (MH), Pangode, on 28 August 2025. The session, led by Dr. Sunil, built on last year’s program and focused on re-emphasizing the core principles of palliative care, while also discussing in detail the groups of patients who could benefit from such services.

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We are deeply grateful to Mr. Sundara Rudraiah, a seasoned bilingual technology professional and writer, for his generous gesture of donating the INR 10,000/- prize money he won in a national-level Father’s Day essay competition organized by Birla Estates (Aditya Birla Group) in Bangalore.

With over three decades of global experience and a rich journey spanning technology, leadership, and now writing, Mr. Rudraiah continues to inspire through his commitment to creating educational resources and raising awareness about dementia.

His thoughtful contribution to Pallium India, enabled by our Karnataka State Facilitator, Spandana, is not just an act of kindness but a reminder of how compassion can transform lives. Thank you, Mr. Rudraiah, for walking with us in our mission to bring comfort, dignity, and care to those who need it most.

Read his prize-winning article here.

Neyyar Medicity, in association with Pallium India, formally launched its Comprehensive Palliative Care Program on 30th September 2025. The event marked a significant step toward integrating palliative care into routine medical services, ensuring that patients and families receive not only medical treatment but also holistic care that addresses physical, emotional, and psychosocial needs.

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Learn to care the right way. Join Pallium India’s Online Volunteer Training Programme from 10th November to 15th November 2025 from 5pm to 6.30pm.

Register Here>>