Pallium India is a national registered charitable trust (No. 693/IV/2003) formed in 2003. It is an NGO based out of Trivandrum, Kerala, with the objective of alleviating serious health-related suffering (SHS) of 7-10 million people in India. We strive to demonstrate quality palliative care, to educate professionals and the public, and facilitate development of palliative care services across India.
Vision
Stop needless health-related suffering to enable people to wake up to life, love and hope.
Mission
Integrate quality palliative care into healthcare by collaborating with, and empowering care seekers, care providers and communities
Core Values: The Compass of Our Actions
Our core values are more than just guiding principles; they are the very essence of our organization, shaping our interactions, decisions, and impact.
Patient-Centricity: We place the needs and wishes of our patients and their families at the heart of everything we do. Their well-being is our ultimate goal.
Care as a Right: We firmly believe that quality care is not a privilege but a fundamental right. We are committed to providing it with compassion and competence.
Upholding Human Dignity: We recognize the inherent worth of every individual and treat them with respect, empathy, and understanding.
Community Partnership: We believe in the power of collaboration. By working hand-in-hand with volunteers and community organizations, we build a strong network of support that extends our reach and impact.
Ethical Practice: We uphold the highest ethical standards, ensuring that our actions are guided by the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, equity and justice.
Our Quality Policy
Pallium India is committed to delivering accessible, equitable, and person-centred palliative care that meaningfully improves the quality of life for patients and families living with serious health-related suffering.
We uphold this commitment through the continuous improvement of our systems and processes — ensuring seamless continuity of care across home, community, and institutional settings; promoting safe and rational access to opioids; and making efficient, accountable use of resources. Our quality is anchored in measurable standards, sustained capacity building, and a culture of transparency and learning.
“Truthful commitment and continuous improvement drive quality.”
Our Quality Principles
- Beneficiary’s Dignity First — Every decision begins with respect for the individual: their values, preferences, and inherent worth.
- Equity of Access — Quality palliative care is a right, not a privilege. We work to remove barriers so that no one is left without support, regardless of geography, background, or circumstance.
- Continuity of Care — We walk alongside patients and families at every stage — home, community, and institutional settings — ensuring no gap in support or compassion.
- Community-Centred Model — Lasting impact is built within communities. We strengthen local capacity and engage families and communities as active partners in care.
- Evidence-Based Practice — Our clinical and operational decisions are grounded in the best available evidence, adapted thoughtfully to the realities of the communities we serve.
- Resource Realism — We pursue excellence within honest constraints — making purposeful, efficient use of available resources without compromising the integrity of care.
- Innovation and Accountability — We continuously seek better ways of working and hold ourselves to the outcomes we promise — measuring, learning and improving without exception.
- Transparency in Process — We operate openly — in our decisions, our standards, and our results — building trust with beneficiaries, partners and the public alike.
Founder’s Message
“Millions in India experience serious illness-related suffering – some writhe in pain, some gasp for breath, many are submerged in the depths of depression, tens of thousands take their own lives while another hundreds of thousands try to and fail.
They are not a vote-bank. They cannot vote because they are too weakened by suffering. Their voice is mute. They don’t have a seat at the table where decisions are made. They become invisible.
The health system focuses only on diseases, turning its back on this unmitigated suffering.
We refuse to turn away.
We will make them visible.
We will ease any pain we can.
We will wipe any tears we can,”
Dr. M.R.Rajagopal
