They Lifted Her When Others Would Not – Dr Chhaya Chandrasekhar, New Delhi Usha died quietly. But the silence around her was full of questions. I had watched her illness in pieces, a young woman with cancer of the buccal mucosa, never treated, growing weaker because poverty kept closing doors. Her husband, already disabled, moved…
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Palliative Care in Indian Oncology: Between Light and Shadow – Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai Timing matters in oncology and palliative care In the corridors of Indian oncology wards, I have often found myself reflecting on a question with no easy answer: “when should palliative care begin?” Should it start immediately after a cancer diagnosis,…
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A Journey of the Heart: How Palliative Care Training Changed the Way I See Volunteering – Ms. Shashikala Devanesen, Chennai As a volunteer from Dean Foundation, Chennai. I had the great privilege of participating in the online Volunteers Training Programme conducted by IAPC from 20-25 November 2025. When I signed up for the Foundation Course…
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The Paradox of Nursing Visibility in Community-Based Palliative Care – Ms. Anu Savio Thelly, Abu Dhabi Despite being the backbone of community-based palliative care, nurses remain largely invisible in global advocacy and discourse, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). While nurses are often the primary providers of palliative care at the grassroots level, policy…
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Upholding Dignity in Healthcare – Dr. Lipika Patra, Meerut Every person holds intrinsic worth, regardless of background, achievement, or social standing. In clinical encounters, patients often feel vulnerable, anxious, or afraid. In our daily practice, unconscious biases can often slip quietly into our work. Patients familiar to us may unintentionally receive preference, while those from…
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Touching Lives through Palliative Care – Ms. Maya Nair, Indore When I look back on my life, I see a journey shaped by compassion and discipline. In 1989, I stepped into the Operation Theatre (OT) as a young nurse, and for more than 32 years, it was my world. The sounds of instruments, the sterile…
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Realising compassion in people and communities: A step towards universal access to palliative care – Ms. Heather Richardson, London Introduction This paper originally had the title “Empowering people and compassionate communities.” I love the sentiment, and it would have been easy to put pen to paper, writing in an enthusiastic way about ideas to help…
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A Hand to Hold, A Shoulder to Lean On: The Soul of Palliative Care – Dr. Mujeeb Kuttamassery, Kochi The United Nations observes the International Day of Friendship every year on 30th July to promote friendship, peace, and understanding among people, cultures, and nations. To mark this occasion, the IAPC features this article in celebration…
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The transforming power of palliative care – A Nurse’s experience – Ms. Suchetna, New Delhi My name is Suchetna, and I work as a palliative care nurse at the Pain and Palliative Outpatient Department (Pain Clinic) of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC). My journey in nursing began when I completed my General…
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Embracing Compassion in Palliative Care – Mr. Sandeep Singh, Bathinda I began my professional journey as a Nursing Officer in various private hospitals across Punjab, working in departments such as the Emergency Ward, ICU, and General Ward. During this time, I cared for many cancer patients. Yet, despite this experience, I had never come across…
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