Dear Friends,
We are preparing for the upcoming IAPC’s Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) scheduled to be held on Friday, 12th November, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. We have already circulated an email requesting registration and sharing the registration link and have also taken efforts to connect with those members (via post and sms’s) whose currently registered email ids are dysfunctional. Please note that registration is mandatory as the login credentials will be sent to your pre-registered email address. I request you to register and participate in the IAPC’s AGBM as it will provide you an opportunity to review the activities of IAPC, provide valuable guidance towards the future direction of IAPC and share feedback on various policy decisions. Please don’t forget that non-registered members will not be allowed to participate in the AGBM, as we need to adhere to the safety measures of the virtual meeting. I also request the State Chapters and the life members of IAPC to share the registration link with the other Life Members of IAPC and also closely follow the IAPC’s website for official announcements.
I would like to bring to your attention that the IAPC’s most recent AGBM was held in 2020, during IAPCON 2020 held at Guwahati. The challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic has made it impossible to organize a physical AGBM or conduct the Elections of the IAPC office bearers, in 2021. IAPCON 2022 is also therefore being organized as a virtual conference. With advise and opinions from experts’, the IAPC’s Central Council decided to organize a virtual AGBM of the IAPC, before IAPCON 2022.
The Central Council of IAPC has also proposed that the elections for 2022 to elect the office bearers of IAPC, also be held virtually. This proposal will be put forth in the IAPC’s upcoming Virtual AGBM.
The IAPC has been working on multiple fronts to improve access to Palliative Care throughout the country. A valuable resource the ‘Palliative Care Status Update in India’, highlighting the current status of the development of Palliative Care across all of India’s States and Union Territories, has been a massive project undertaken by the IAPC with immense support from contributors spread across the country. On behalf of IAPC, I express my sincere gratitude to all who have worked towards the successful completion of this project. This report was launched on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and is available on the IAPC website.
The increased awareness and momentum of palliative care activities in India was visible in the innumerable World Hospice and Palliative Care Day celebrations across the country. I invite you to catch glimpses into their celebrations, published in this newsletter. We also launched two videos to celebrate our Palliative Care providers from across the country. We hope you enjoyed the video; the same is also shared in this newsletter. I thank Dr. Wasim Hoda for editing and compiling these videos.
We are currently working towards updating the IAPC’s Web Directory. Your invaluable support towards creating an updated directory (State Wise) will ensure that ‘no-one is left behind’ as it helps improve access to palliative care services by connecting patients, caregivers and health professionals from across the country. I request you to please click here to update the details of your center and also circulate this link within your networks.
The IAPC is also organizing multiple programs and workshops to provide palliative care training for health care professionals and volunteers spread throughout the country. We recently concluded a 5-session online workshop on Psychosocial Care in chronic illness, that was delivered by eminent faculty members. I extend my gratitude to Dr. Seema Rao and Dr. Ganpathy K. V., the Course Chairs of the program, and to all the faculties.
The IAPC Academy Lectures continues to be one of the leading training programs in the country which is regularly attended by physicians practicing Palliative Care from across the country.
We will be announcing the next batch of the IAPC’s CCEPC course soon, along with the launch of several other new programs for doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and pharmacists.
I look forward to meeting you all in the upcoming AGBM on 12th November, 2021.
Warm regards,
Dr. Sushma Bhatnagar
President, IAPC