Strengthening Palliative Care in Uttarakhand
SSJGIMSR Almora Leads the Way
Access to quality palliative care remains a challenge for many patients living in the remote and mountainous regions of Uttarakhand. Difficult terrain, scattered populations, and limited access to healthcare services often prevent people living with serious illnesses from receiving timely and compassionate care. Against this backdrop, Soban Singh Jeena Government Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (SSJGIMSR), Almora, has emerged as a leading institution committed to bringing quality palliative care closer to patients and their families.
The institution’s palliative care journey has evolved steadily over the past few years through strong institutional leadership, committed healthcare professionals, and sustained technical collaboration. Faculty members from the institution first strengthened their knowledge and skills by completing the online Foundation Course in Palliative Medicine (FCPM) through the Trivandrum Institute of Palliative Sciences (TIPS), a WHO Collaborating Centre for Training and Policy on Access to Pain Relief and Palliative Care. Dr. Urmila Palaria, Head of the Department of Anaesthesiology, further enhanced the institution’s expertise by successfully completing Pallium India’s Global Fellowship in Palliative Medicine. Building upon these capacity-building initiatives, dedicated Palliative Care Outpatient (OPD) and Inpatient (IPD) services were established at Base Hospital, Almora, enabling patients with serious illnesses to receive holistic and compassionate care closer to home.
Recognising the importance of access to essential pain relief medicines, the institution successfully obtained Recognized Medical Institution (RMI) status in 2024, ensuring the availability of oral morphine for patients experiencing severe pain. Throughout this journey, the institution benefited from technical mentoring and facilitation for service development, RMI processes, and capacity building through its collaboration with Pallium India.
As part of the ongoing collaboration, a gap assessment visit and an onsite Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme were organised in May 2024 to identify opportunities for strengthening palliative care services. This was followed by a week-long onsite implementation support visit in July 2024, during which the multidisciplinary team received mentoring on clinical service delivery, documentation systems, and operational aspects of palliative care.
The institution continued to build its capacity during 2025–26 under the BPCL-supported initiative, through which six doctors and twenty nurses completed structured palliative care training programmes. These efforts further strengthened the institution’s ability to deliver quality palliative care services.
A recent observation visit highlighted the remarkable progress achieved by the team. The Palliative Care OPD and IPD services were found to be functioning effectively, while opioid management records, including Oral Morphine Stock and Dispensing Registers, were systematically maintained, reflecting the institution’s commitment to quality care and regulatory compliance.
Importantly, the institution is already looking beyond hospital-based services. During discussions, Dr. Urmila Palaria and her colleagues emphasised the urgent need for home-based palliative care in the Kumaon region. Patients living in remote mountain villages often face significant challenges in reaching healthcare facilities due to difficult terrain and limited transportation. The team shared its vision of establishing a dedicated home care programme that can bring compassionate care directly to patients and families in some of Uttarakhand’s most underserved communities.
Under the leadership of Dr. Chandra Prakash Bhaisora and with the dedicated efforts of Dr. Urmila Palaria, Dr. Aditya Chauhan, and their colleagues, SSSJGIMSR has demonstrated how a government medical institution can successfully integrate palliative care into routine clinical services in a geographically challenging region. The partnership with Pallium India has complemented these efforts through technical mentoring, training, and implementation support, contributing to the institution’s continued growth and development.
As SSSJGIMSR continues to expand its services and explore innovative approaches such as home-based palliative care, it is paving the way for a future where quality, compassionate, and person-centred care is accessible to all who need it, regardless of where they live.
Key Milestones
2022–23: Faculty members completed the Foundation Course in Palliative Medicine (FCPM).
2023–24: Dedicated Palliative Care OPD and IPD services established at Base Hospital, Almora.
February 2024: SSSJGIMSR obtained Recognized Medical Institution (RMI) status.
May 2024: Gap assessment visit and onsite CME conducted to support service strengthening.
July 2024: One-week onsite mentoring and implementation support provided for the multidisciplinary team.
2025–26: Six doctors and twenty nurses completed structured palliative care training under the BPCL-supported initiative.
June 2026: BPCL-supported Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed, strengthening the institution’s commitment to expanding palliative care services.
Note: Need Support with RMI Recognition? Pallium India has supported hospitals and medical colleges across India in navigating the RMI application process and strengthening systems for safe opioid availability and use. Connect with [email protected]
Rajendra Dutt Bijalwan
Regional Facilitator, Pallium India – Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Jharkhand
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