From the President’s Desk
Wishing all the members of Indian Association of Palliative Care, a very Happy New Year-2020, the last year of the decade. I want to thank you all for the excellent and constructive work we did in 2019. We have achieved a lot in the previous year and lot more need to be done in the coming year and decade.
Let’s work together and make a firm determination to make IAPC a more vibrant and visible organization globally and India a better place to live and die with dignity for the people suffering with chronic serious health related disorders.
Looking forward to meeting you all at Guwahati to celebrate our annual event IAPCON-2020.
Let’s start counting a few of our achievements in the last year:
1. New Milestone for Indian Journal of Palliative Care (IJPC)
IJPC got selected in Thomson Reuters ESCI. This a major achievement for any journal and a new milestone in its progress. IJPC is one step away from impact factor. IJPC will be closely scrutinized for citation metrics. Hence IJPC now aims to publish articles that have higher citation probability.
2. New Centers started for CCEPC course
The Certificate Course in Essentials of Palliative Care has completed 11 years of successful training for doctors and nurses in India. The course was launched in November 2007 and with the successful conduct of the November 2018 course it has completed 11 years. Since November 2007, a total of 7149 candidates have registered for this course.
New IAPC course centres have been started at Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences, Amritsar (Pb), AIIMS, Jodhpur, AIIMS, Rishikesh, AIIMS, Patna IGIMS Patna, Balco Medical Center, Raipur, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore and Narayana Super Specialty Hospital,, Howrah.
3. Inclusion of AETCOM module in undergraduate teaching curriculum for doctors.
The Medical Council of India has revised the MBBS curriculum and introduced several new topics related to Palliative Medicine. It has introduced an entirely new section called ‘AETCOMS’ (Attitude, Ethics and Communication) which has aspects related to principles and practice of palliative care covering the topics related to managing pain and symptoms, principles of palliative care, ethics and decision making, end of life care and communication skills. It has also been approved by MCI that since these topics are related to Palliative Medicine, they should preferably be taught by Palliative Medicine professionals. The link to the MCI syllabus can be found at https://www.mciindia.org/CMS/information-desk/for-colleges/ug-curriculum
4. Palliative Care program started in all six AIIMS of the country and 32 other leading medical Institutions of India
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN) to provide palliative Care Training aimed at Cancer Treatment Centres (CTCs) in India. The mandates of this programme is that all institutions dealing with cancer and non-communicable diseases should have integration of palliative care services and a dedicated Department of Palliative Medicine.
5. First batch of resident doctors of MD Palliative Medicine at Ahmedabad
Resident doctors of the first batch of MD, Palliative Medicine joined the department of Palliative Medicine, GCRI, Ahmedabad- an important milestone after the MD, Palliative Medicine was sanctioned by MCI in 2012.
6. Volunteer Training Programme by IAPC has spread its wings in almost all parts of India
This has been possible under the leadership of Mr Radhakrishnan Menon and his team. Training is being imparted to the volunteers as per the guidelines of WHO and is supervised by an IAPC member from the region. This course was initiated in in Bihar when the course was conducted on 6th and 7th July 2019 at Mahavir Cancer Sansthan and Research Centre, Patna.
7. IAPC stand on Advance Directives
ELICIT has been working towards seeking clarity and suitable amendment to the convoluted procedures suggested towards the Advance Directives. IAPC filed an appeal in the Supreme Court to consider the procedural alterations that have been suggested to make the procedure less cumbersome- in keeping with national and international professional consensus and jurisdiction elsewhere in the world.
8. AAHPM Annual Assembly at Orlando, Florida
Dr Mohd Yunus Khilji from Bikaner, an active member of IAPC, Dr Sunil Kumar MM from Pallium India and Dr Spandana Rayala from Hyderabad represented India at AAHPM Annual Assembly at Orlando, Florida, USA, from 13th to 16th march 2019. They were selected as international scholars by AAHPM to represent their country and speak about status of palliative medicine in their respective regions.
9. Delhi Palliative Care Forum is all set to make a difference in the Capital
The Delhi Palliative Care Forum was formed with the aim of bringing all organizations, physicians, nurses, volunteers and paramedical staff working in palliative care in Delhi and NCR under one common umbrella. The first meeting held on 25/05/2019 at 11AM at IRCH, AIIMS.
10. World Hospice and palliative Care day observed on 12th Oct’19 In different parts of India
(Theme: My Care, My Right)
This day was observed all over India with IAPC members and Health care organisations conducting various activities, spreading awareness among the population and health services provided by the Government.
11. ‘ANANTHAKRIPA’ a project of Sevabharathi Thiruvanthapuram
Anantha Kripa is a free accommodation facility proposed by Sevabharathi near Medical College Jn, Trivandrum exclusively women and children treated at Regional Cancer Centre. This shelter , started in May 2019, home will provide free accommodation and food to around 150 people at a time. The three storeyed building also includes a kitchen and an ambulance is also available.
12. Cansupport launched home care services
This has been launched in Bhatinda (Pb) and Meerut (UP).
13. New Palliative Care centres started
New Palliative Care centres were started at Government Medical College, Srinagar, Government Medical College, Udaipur (Raj) and seven district hospitals in Odisha.
Message from Conference Secretariat
Dear esteemed delegates,
This is to inform you that due to recent pan India protest of CAA there were some disturbance in network connectivity in Assam and some parts of the country. Considering the fact we the organizing committee of IAPCON 2020 have decided to extend the late registration date till 14th January, 2020 which was otherwise would have ended on 31st December, 2019.
Thanks & Regards
Dr. Arun Deka
Conference Secretariat, IAPCON 2020
News & Events
In an ongoing effort to include the AYUSH practitioners into the ‘cloak’ of Palliative care, the Hon. Secretary, Dr. Abhijith Dam gave a plenary lecture at the Siddha Central Research Institute, Institute of Indian Medicine, Chennai, on 20th Dec’19. The meeting was also attended by the Director General of Central Council for Research in Siddha, Prof .Kanakavalli .Avenues were explored in which potential benefits in symptom control in Palliative Care can be achieved by using traditional Siddha medicine. A large potential for further research and collaborative effort has been identified.
Forthcoming Events
IAPCON 2020, Guwahati
Election for the post of IAPC Zonal members will be held during IAPCON 2020 Guwahati, on 15th Feb 2020 at the Conference venue. Notification and nomination form has been uploaded on IAPC website. Information on Pre Conference CME on 13th Feb’20 has also been uploaded on IAPC website. [dt_button size=”small” animation=”none” icon=”” icon_align=”left” color=”” link=”https://palliativecare.in/iapc-annual-conference-iapcon-2020/” target_blank=”true”]Read more[/dt_button]
27th International Conference of Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2020)
Conference Dates: February 14th to 16th, 2020.
Pre-conference Dates: February 13th, 2020.
Program Highlights
- Palliative Care Education in India
- Universal Access to Palliative Care
- Paediatric Palliative Care Empowering compassionate communities
- Political will for prevention & relief of suffering at the end of life
- North East Palliative Care: New initiatives
- Institute Based Palliative Care
- Rehabilitation & Palliative Care
- Nursing Issues Empower to improve competency
- Pain Management Research in Palliative Care
- Role of Volunteers & Social workers Safe use of opioids
- Palliative Care in Non-Malignant Diseases
- Engaging Students in Palliative Care
- Entrust: Joining hands with contemporaries
- Care for Caregivers
- Palliative Care Debate: “Implementing Advance Directives in India”
- Palliative Care Quiz
- Best 3 Oral Presentations
- Best 3 Poster Presentations
Conference Secretariat:
Dr. Arun Deka
Organizing Secretary
First Floor, Administrative Block,
State Cancer Institute, Gauhati Medical College,
Bhangagarh, Guwahati – 781032, Assam, India.
Email: info@iapcon2020.com | Website: www.iapcon2020.com
Official Conference Managers:
Neeraj Jaggi | Mobile: +91 9810658724
Rajat Khurana | Mobile: +91 9811911800
28-32. Ground Floor, Rectangle-I,
Distt. Centre Saket. New Delhi-110017
Website: wwrw.mec-9.com
XVlII Annual Conference on Evidence Based Management of Cancers
Conference date: 28th February to 1st March, 2020. Pre conference workshop date: 27th February, 2020.
Venue: Tata Memorial Centre.
Find out about it [dt_button size=”small” animation=”none” icon=”” icon_align=”left” color=”” link=”https://palliativecare.in/xvlii-annual-conference-on-evidence-based-management-of-cancers-in-india/” target_blank=”true”]here[/dt_button]
For donations to the IAPC and for further information write to nioiapc@gmail.com
Visit us at https://palliativecare.in/iapc-annual-conference-iapcon-2020/ and leave your comments and queries.