Published on: March 31, 2026

Advancing Palliative Care Through Collaboration and Innovation

Palliative care plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals living with serious and life-limiting illnesses. Strengthening this important field in India, Pallium India, in partnership with the Singapore International Foundation (SIF), successfully conducted the PACT (Palliative Care Accessibility Core Training) Program – Module 3. The workshop was held at Sparsh Hospice, Hyderabad, from 9th to 12th March 2026, and brought together 30 healthcare professionals from across India. The program fostered a collaborative and engaging environment for learning, skill development, and knowledge exchange.

About the Program

The PACT program is designed to strengthen the knowledge and clinical capabilities of healthcare professionals, enabling them to deliver comprehensive and patient-centered palliative care.

The training focused on:

• Effective management of pain and other symptoms
• Improving patients’ overall quality of life
• Providing psychosocial and emotional support
• Encouraging interdisciplinary approaches in care delivery

Workshop Objectives

The workshop was carefully structured to address both clinical and psychosocial aspects of palliative care. Key objectives included:

• Strengthening the role of Medical Social Workers (MSWs)
• Addressing complex clinical scenarios
• Introducing experiential and interactive learning methods
• Enhancing communication skills and ethical decision-making

Expert Trainers and Facilitators

The workshop featured a distinguished panel of international and national experts who contributed significantly to the learning experience:

• Dr. Lim Ying Yin
• Ms. Lim Siao Ee
• Dr. Vidhya Pillay
• Dr. Akhileswaran
• Ms. Susan Lim
• Ms Lee Wai Ying
• Dr. Sreedevi Warrier
• Dr. Sunil Kumar
• Ms. Spandana Thokala
• Mr. Sangeeth Krishna

Their diverse expertise enriched the sessions and encouraged meaningful discussions and knowledge sharing.

An Engaging Learning Experience

A key highlight of the workshop was its innovative and participant-focused approach. Moving beyond traditional teaching methods, the program incorporated:

• Interactive lectures and group discussions
• Demonstrations and case-based learning
• Dramatherapy sessions
• Experiential activities, including an educational escape room

These methods allowed participants to engage actively with real-life scenarios, enhancing both understanding and retention.

Day-wise Highlights

Day 1 – Building Foundations: The workshop began with sessions on prognostication, psychosocial care, spirituality, and effective feedback, along with an introduction to dramatherapy.

Day 2 – Clinical and Ethical Insights: The focus shifted to geriatric care, psychosocial risk assessment, and ethical considerations in end-of-life care, supported by practical dramatherapy exercises.

Day 3 – Mental Health and Practice: Participants explored mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, neurological conditions like brain tumors, and bereavement support. The day also featured an engaging escape room activity and hands-on dramatherapy sessions.

Day 4 – Reflection and Future Planning: The workshop concluded with a leaders’ dialogue and roundtable discussion, encouraging reflection, collaboration, and future action planning.

Participant Engagement

The workshop emphasized active participation through:

• Group reflections
• Case-based discussions
• Hands-on activities
• Interactive demonstrations

This ensured that participants were actively involved in the learning process rather than being passive attendees.

Impact of the Workshop

The SIF PACT Module 3 workshop made a significant impact by:

• Strengthening knowledge and skills in palliative care
• Promoting interdisciplinary collaboration
• Facilitating international knowledge exchange

The presence of distinguished professionals such as Dr. Swapna Jilla and Dr. Mani Tolety further enriched the discussions and provided valuable insights.

Conclusion

The SIF PACT Module 3 workshop highlights the importance of collaboration and innovative education in advancing palliative care in India. By integrating clinical expertise with experiential learning, the program has equipped healthcare professionals with the skills and understanding needed to deliver compassionate and holistic care. Initiatives like PACT continue to play a crucial role in making quality palliative care more accessible to those in need.

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