Announcements / Messages from IAPC

Applications invited for the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025’

The IAPC is delighted to invite applications for the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025’. The initiative aims to encourage nurses in palliative care to further develop their skills and knowledge and achieve excellence in palliative care.

Dr. Dinesh Kumar (Professor, Community Medicine, Pramukhswami Medical College, Bhaikaka University) has been designated as the coordinator for the IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025. He goes on to share that the national examination will be conducted in two steps.

  • The first step will be a free to attend online screening examination which will include 100 MCQ’s to be completed by candidates at their own pace before 5 p.m. on Sunday, 31st August, 2025.
  • The top 5 rank holders from the Step 1 online screening examination will be invited to participate in the Step 2 process, an in-person examination scheduled to be held on Monday, 3rd November, 2025, at Shree Krishna Hospital, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat

The winner of the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025’ will receive a cash prize of Rs. 25,000/- (Twenty-five thousand only), a citation and a medal.

Please click here for further details regarding the guidelines, the selection process, and the timelines.

IAPC’s Tribute on National Doctors’ Day

On National Doctors’ Day (1st July 2025), the Indian Association of Palliative Care pays tribute to palliative care doctors—the silent heroes who ease pain, uphold dignity, and support patients and families through life-limiting illnesses. This infographic highlights their vital role, the urgent need for more specialists, and how one can join this meaningful field.

Please feel free to share this infographic within your networks. The same will be available on our social media platforms and also on our website. Please click here to access the same.

We thank Dr Wasimul Hoda (Fellow in Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi) for his valuable support towards this initiative.

Welcoming the Next Generation of Palliative Medicine Physicians

As part of its National Doctors’ Day 2025 celebrations, the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) proudly honours and recognizes the next generation of palliative medicine physicians.

To mark this occasion, the IAPC is updating its website with the names and photographs of all postgraduate trainees who joined palliative medicine programs across India from 2024 onwards. This special initiative aims to celebrate and welcome new members into the palliative care community and acknowledge their commitment to compassionate care.

We invite you to visit the dedicated page and meet the future leaders of our field.

View the list here.

Let’s come together to support and celebrate these young doctors who have chosen to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families.

IAPCON 2026: Group Registration Now Open – Early Bird Offer till 31st July!

Are you planning to attend IAPCON 2026 with your colleagues? Take advantage of the special group registration offer available exclusively for groups

Register before 31st July 2025 to avail discounted early bird rates across all categories—doctors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, volunteers, and students. This offer is applicable to both IAPC members and non-members.

Group registration benefits:

  • Reduced rates for early bird registrants
  • Minimum of 15 members required to apply
  • Registration accepted via offline process only

For registration and queries please contact: 

Mr Amanpreet Singh
Phone: 8595251325
Email: iapcon2026@gmail.com

Also visit conference website: www.iapcon2026hyd.com

Themes for Pre-conference Workshops at IAPCON 2026

Don’t miss the chance to deepen your expertise at IAPCON 2026! This year’s 16 pre-conference workshops offer a diverse and enriching selection of topics—from holistic end-of-life care, home-based dementia support, and psychosocial interventions, to the practicalities of the NDPS Act, POCUS, and quality improvement in palliative care. Whether you’re a nurse, physician, therapist, or psychosocial professional, these thoughtfully curated sessions promise to equip you with new tools, perspectives, and skills for compassionate, high-quality care. We encourage you to register early and be part of this vital learning experience. Join us as we grow together in knowledge, empathy, and impact.

Themes for Pre-conference Workshops at IAPCON 2026

  1. Bridging the gaps in palliative care: equipping nurses for seamless transitions across hospital, hospice, and home
  2. Recognizing Psychosocial and Spiritual issues in Palliative and End-of-life settings- “Seeing the Unseen”
  3. Neuro Palliative Home-Based Care for People Living with Advanced Dementia: Strategies for Improving Patient Outcomes and Enhancing Caregiver Support
  4. Empathy and Storytelling in Palliative Care and Photography as a tool of liberation
  5. Bridging the Gaps: Delivering Holistic End-of-Life Care at Home
  6. Navigating the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985: Implications for Palliative Care
  7. CBT approaches in palliative care
  8. POCUS with Purpose: Comfort Focused Imaging
  9. Navigating through complex decisions for very sick children
  10. Understanding the How’s and Whys of a Home Hospice Service
  11. Smart fixes Psychological Interventions – Making Therapy Individualistic to Palliative Care Patients and families
  12. Navigating the Oncology Journey- A Physical Therapy Perspective across the Continuum of Care
  13. EQuIP-XP: “Improving What Matters” – Quality Improvement in Palliative Care
  14. PalliPulm- Demystifying home oxygen, NIV , tracheostomy and home ventilation for carers of patients with chronic respiratory and neuromuscular disease
  15. “Preserving Dignity & Processing Grief”: Integrating Grief and Dignity Therapy In Palliative Care
  16. Efficient Quality-assured Data Capture in Palliative Care using a Mobile Phone

Conference Dates: 13th–15th February 2026
Pre-Conference Workshops: 12th February 2026
Venue: National Institute for MSME, Hyderabad

For assistance, contact +91 85952 51325 or email iapcon2026@gmail.com
Visit: www.iapcon2026hyd.com

Register now and join us in Hyderabad for India’s premier palliative care conference!

WHPCA Launches Toolkits for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2025

The Worldwide Hospice and Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) has launched a series of valuable toolkits to support this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD), observed on Saturday, 11 October 2025. The theme for this year—“Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care”— emphasizes to strengthen palliative care as a component of comprehensive care throughout the life course.

The toolkits include advocacy resources, social media materials, planning guides, and downloadable templates to help organizations and individuals around the world participate meaningfully in the day. Whether you’re planning an event, launching a campaign, or simply spreading awareness, these resources can help amplify your efforts. We encourage all members of the palliative care community in India to explore these resources and join the global movement.

 Access the toolkits here: WHPCA World Day 2025 Resources.

Let’s come together to raise awareness, share stories, and advocate for compassionate care for all.

‘Singing for the Stars’: Update from the June 2025 event

The June 2025 edition of Singing for the Stars was held at 2:55 p.m. on Wednesday, 18th June 2025.

This delightful virtual evening of harmonies was presented by Ms. Himangi Vishwaroop, a talented vocalist, composer, and performing artist. Ms. Vishwaroop’s soulful and captivating performance mesmerised the audience, leaving everyone uplifted and inspired.

The program was live-streamed for those receiving palliative care at the Palliative Care Unit of Dr. Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute, Guwahati, and in the Palliative Care Ward at Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences (SAIMS), Indore. Several others, including healthcare professionals, carers and volunteers, also joined the program.

The event was organised as a special tribute to palliative care patients and their caregivers, each of whom is celebrated as a star. Participants expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the music and the joy it brought into their lives.

Team SMA Nirvana conveyed their sincere thanks to everyone who joined the program and contributed to making the event a memorable and heartwarming experience.

Leverage the IAPC’s Social Media to stay connected!

The IAPC is inviting each of you to join the IAPC’s Social Media community to network and stay connected with the palliative care community, from India and beyond!

To get started, Follow / Like us on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/palliativecare.in

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iapc-1994/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/iapcsecretary

New vacancies from across the country now published in the IAPC’s Careers page

We invite you to visit the IAPC’s ‘View job vacancy’ page to view the recently updated vacancies in palliative care from across the country.

Details of current vacancies are:

We request you to please also join us to improve the availability and access to palliative care by either sharing the details of vacancies at your center or by sharing the details of this platform with your colleagues to submit a vacancy from centers rendering palliative care services.

Call for Support: Your 2 minutes = Someone’s entire lifetime of Peace, Comfort and Dignity!

The IAPC requests you to spare just two minutes of your valuable time to submit / update the details of your palliative care services in the IAPC’s National Palliative Care Directory.

Steps to show your support:

  1. Please visit the IAPC’s National Palliative Care Directory and select the State from the drop down menu to check details of your center.
  2. If you need to add / update details of your center, then please visit the Submit/Update details of your PC center page on the IAPC website and submit the relevant details.
  3. After entering the relevant details, please click the ‘Submit’ button to record your responses.

Please do remember that your two minutes will make an invaluable difference in someone’s entire lifetime, as patients and caregivers, along with your colleagues will then have access to palliative care services when they need it the most!

Come on, donate your time to be a bridge in alleviating the suffering of our patients from across the country. Let no one be left behind!

Please click here for guidance on how to update your details.

‘Saath Saath Helpline’: India’s free palliative care helpline

Saath-Saath Helpline: 1800-202-7777, is the first of its kind National, Free-of-cost Palliative care helpline. The helpline offers non-judgmental listening services to palliative patients and their caregivers, or to a patient’s physician, and connects them to the nearest palliative care center.

The helpline has 26 partner organisations working across 17 States and Union territories viz; Maharashtra, Delhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Orissa, Punjab, Haryana, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Kashmir and West Bengal. Volunteers from Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and Cipla Palliative Care and Training Centre (CPC) attend the calls in four shifts to either provide information, offer Psycho-emotional support or to refer the caller to a partner organisation.

The helpline provides service through call-in on a phone line and works 6 days a week (Mon-Sat), 10 am to 6 pm.

You can offer your support by informing patients about this helpline and refer those who are in need of such services.