The program ‘SAMVEDANA – SAHIYARI SAMBHAL’ was celebrated on the occasion of World hospice and palliative care day at Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute (GCRI), Ahmedabad on 14th October, 2023. This year’s theme for the program was “compassionate communities: together for care.” The program was inaugurated by Dr. Shashank Pandya, Director of GCRI, Ahmedabad by welcoming our guests, faculties of various cancer specialties, resident doctors, paramedical students, patients and their caregivers, cancer survivors, NGOs & Volunteers.

The program was celebrated by Resident Doctors, Faculties, supportive team under the guidance of the Head of the Department, Dr. Priti Sanghavi in the Auditorium along with the help of various NGOs (Sanjeevani, Life beyond cancer care Doctors for you and CANKIDs) affiliated with the institute.

Chief guest of our program was Dr. M. T. Bhatia, who was pioneer in establishing first pain society and starting Hospice center (currently, community oncology center, Vasna, Ahmedabad). He enlightened us with the problems he faced for morphine availability, overcome opioid-phobia among physicians and about his dream project – hospice center for palliative care patients.

Guests of honor were shri Divyesh Radia (secretory, Gujarat Cancer Society (GCS)] and shri Kaushik Patel (Secretory, GCS).

Palliative care heroes – behind the curtain like social worker, psychologists, dietician were appreciated with a small gift during the program.

Ten minutes Role Play was ab