SANTVANA Neuro Palliative and Supportive Care Project, National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, led by Dr. Priya Treesa Thomas, Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, supported by Cipla foundation, observed World Hospice and Palliative Care Day on 9 October 2026, through a programme “Beyond the Visible: Connecting the Dots in Palliative Care”, which brought together representatives from various organisations working in palliative care and allied fields to foster dialogue, strengthen partnerships and explore opportunities for collaborative action.

The key highlight was the expert talk, “Beyond Observable Pain: Understanding the Context of Suffering”, by Dr. R. Srinivasa Murthy, which underscored the importance of looking beyond visible symptoms to understand the broader dimensions of suffering.

A subsequent stakeholder dialogue explored critical areas for advancing palliative care, including referral pathways, emerging trends, compassion fatigue, capacity building, resource mobilisation, vocational rehabilitation, academic collaborations, community initiatives and research partnerships.

The programme reaffirmed that effective palliative care extends beyond individual services; it requires connected systems, multidisciplinary collaboration and sustained community engagement. By bringing diverse stakeholders together, the initiative sought to strengthen professional networks and advance a more accessible, coordinated and compassionate approach to palliative care.