Announcements / Messages from IAPC

IAPC’s Infographic of the month: ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) and the Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies (PallCHASE) have collaborated to bring out a ‘Special Series’ of infographics focusing on palliative care in humanitarian situations.

This collaboration reflects the joint vision of both organisations to promote palliative care awareness and education across the world.  

The 4th infographic from this special series focuses on the concept of ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’

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.

Please click on the image above to download the Infographic for November 2025.

Please click here to access IAPC’s infographics published till date.

IAPC’s Election Notification 2026 – Application Last Date Extended

The IAPC has announced that the last date for submitting nominations for its 2026 elections has been extended to 31st December, 2025. Elections (if required) will be held on 14th February, 2026 during IAPCON 2026. Positions open include Regional Representatives to the Executive Committee (Western, Northern, Southern, Eastern, and North-Eastern regions) for 2026–2028, as well as the posts of Honorary Secretary, IAPC, and Chairperson and Secretary-General of the Academy of Palliative Medicine (APM) for 2026–2029. Eligible members are invited to apply, noting that candidates may contest only one post, and completed nomination forms must be emailed to iapcelections@gmail.com before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 31st December, 2025.

For more details on eligibility and nomination, kindly visit the Election Page.

IAPC invites Proposal for IAPCON 2028

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) is inviting proposals to conduct the 35th Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2028).

Those interested in organising the conference are requested to submit their expression of interest by emailing the proposal in the requested and prescribed format to the Secretary, IAPC, at iapcagbm@gmail.com before 5 p.m. on Saturday, 17th January, 2026.

Please click this link to download the format to submit your proposal.

Engaging Activities and Creative Opportunities at IAPCON 2026

IAPCON 2026 brings an exciting line-up of interactive and creative events designed to engage, inspire and energise participants throughout the conference. Delegates can look forward to the lively IAPCs’ Annual Debate, which encourages sharp thinking, confident expression and healthy academic discussion. Adding a refreshing and joyful element, the Ha! Ha! Ha! contest invites healthcare professionals to share humour through drawings, jokes, memes and short stories, celebrating the important role of laughter in holistic palliative care. The conference also welcomes scientific contributions across diverse themes, with the Abstract submission deadline extended to 7th December, giving participants additional time to showcase their research and innovations. Together, these activities aim to enrich the conference experience, build community and foster meaningful engagement among attendees.

For more details, visit the IAPCON 2026 website

Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) of the IAPC

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) invites all its members to attend the Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM), scheduled to be held on 14th February, 2026 at 4:00 PM during IAPCON 2026 in the Main Hall (Hall A), National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NI-MSME), Hyderabad. Members are encouraged to participate and contribute to discussions on key organisational updates, activities, and plans for the coming year. Your presence and active involvement are vital to strengthening our collective efforts in advancing palliative care across the country. We look forward to your participation.

The Human Crisis in Cancer: A Commission from Lancet Oncology

The Lancet Oncology has published a groundbreaking report called “The Human Crisis in Cancer.” It says that while biomedical innovation has grown, the human experience of care has significantly degraded. The Commission says that there is a systemic failure to address the emotional, financial, and existential suffering of patients. Technical precision is often prioritised ahead of human presence.  The commission makes an urgent call to make oncology more human by making palliative and psychosocial support an essential aspects of cancer care instead of optional additions.  This report is an important tool for advocates who want to make dignity, connection, and fairness important measures of healthcare success.

Click here to read the full report.

A Historic Milestone: The 1st WBIAPCON Concludes with Remarkable Impact and Success in Kolkata

The 1st West Bengal Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (WBIAPCON) concluded successfully at the Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Kolkata, on Sunday, 23rd November, 2025. A total of 166 delegates participated in the conference, including 75 doctors, along with nurses, psychologists and social workers. The conference was organised by the West Bengal Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)

The enriching pre-conference workshops were held on Saturday, 22nd November 2025, across various venues in Kolkata and neighbouring towns. A total of 35 delegates attended the workshop on ‘The Art of Communication’ held at Tata Memorial Centre, Kolkata. The workshop on ‘Cancer Pain Management’ at SGCCRI, Thakurpukur, was attended by 70 delegates, while 72 delegates participated in the workshop titled ‘Nursing Issues in Palliative Care’ hosted at CNCI, Kolkata. Delegates who attended the conference were from West Bengal, North east and Jharkhand.

The scientific sessions of the main conference were conducted in two parallel halls at TMC from 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, 23rd November, 2025. The 3 key note lectures were delivered by Palliative Care Pioneers:

  • Keynote Lecture 1: Starting Palliative Care Services by Dr Geeta Joshi (President, IAPC)
  • Keynote Lecture 2: Walking the Walk vs Talking the Walk by Dr Abhijit Dam (Past Secretary, IAPC)
  • Keynote Lecture 3: The Journey of Palliative Care in India: Reflections and the Road Ahead by Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (Past President, IAPC)

Paper presentations, poster sessions, and various competitions saw enthusiastic participation. The academic agenda covered diverse themes, including symptom management, advances in palliative care, capacity building in West Bengal, and strengthening education in palliative care, and many more.  The topics catered to a wide range of participants including healthcare professionals, administrators, volunteers, and the general public.

The conference was graced by eminent national and international faculty and champions of palliative care, including: Dr Geeta Joshi (President, IAPC), Dr Raghu S Thota (Secretary, IAPC), Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (Past President, IAPC), Dr Abhijit Dam (Past Secretary, IAPC), Ms Gilly Burn (UK), and Dr Seema Mishra (AIIMS New Delhi).

Renowned experts from West Bengal including Dr Jyotsna Goswami, Dr Soumitra S Datta, Dr Shrikant Atreya, Dr Gaurav Kumar, Dr Suparna Mitra, Dr Rakesh Roy, Dr Rudranil Nandi, Dr Shikhar More, Dr Pankaj Chowdhury, Dr. Sumantra Banerjee, Ms Meheli Chakraborty, Dr Gargi Nandi, Dr Swagata Biswas, Dr Anurag Sarkar, Dr Indranil Ghosh, Dr Gautam Bhattacharya, and Dr Shyamal Sarkar further enriched the scientific discussions.

Senior administrators and policy leaders also participated in strategic discussions aimed at strengthening palliative care services in West Bengal. Dignitaries included Dr Debasish Bhattacharya (Ex-DME), Dr. Subhranshu Dutta (ADHS, NCD II, WB), Dr. Pankaj Chowdhury (Community Palliative Care Physician), Dr P Arun, Dr Sanjay Kapoor, Mr Shantanu Chakraborty, Dr Sourav Dutta, and Dr Arnab Gupta. Palliative care programme leads from various districts also attended, with Dr Koushik Roy and Dr Soma Ghosh among the participants representing the palliative care workforce in district hospitals in West Bengal.

The inaugural WBIAPCON not only served as an academic platform for palliative care professionals but also played an important role in raising awareness among the public, media, healthcare community and government stakeholders.

The event received overwhelmingly positive feedback, inspiring confidence to host future regional conferences and eventually a national-level conference. The organising team expressed hope that this event will further strengthen the mission of spreading palliative care values across all levels of society, ultimately enhancing service to humanity.

The conference organising committee was jointly led by Dr Shrikant Atreya, Dr Suparna Mitra, and Dr Swagata Biswas (Organising Secretaries), while Dr Jyotsna Goswami and Dr Soumitra S Dutta served as Organising Chairs.

The General Body Meeting (AGBM) of the West Bengal Chapter of IAPC was also held during the event, led by Dr Rakesh Roy (President, IAPC WB Chapter) and Dr Debasish Jatua (Secretary, IAPC WB Chapter).

The IAPC extends its warmest congratulations to the West Bengal Chapter for their outstanding efforts in organising this landmark conference and making it a grand success.

EAPC Researcher Awards 2026

The EAPC invites applications (or nominations) for its 2026 Researcher Awards, recognising outstanding contributions by researchers and clinicians in palliative. The awards aim to highlight early-career researchers, postdoctoral investigators, and practitioners who demonstrate significant impact and potential to advance palliative care in their region. Prize winners will be invited to present during a plenary session at the EAPC Congress 2026. The EAPC will cover the registration fees of the three award winners.

Who can apply / Award categories:

  • Early Researcher Award – The candidate should hold a higher degree, PhD or equivalent, obtained in the past 3 years* and be in the early stages of a research career
  • Post Doctoral Award – The candidate should hold a PhD or equivalent obtained in the past 9 years*, have performed independent research and have demonstrated evidence of impact through high quality, highly cited publications and dissemination activities
  • Clinical Impact Award – The candidate should hold a clinical qualification in any discipline and be involved in promoting palliative care through research in one or more of these ways: clinical practice, public advocacy, policy or education, over 9 years*.

*Excludes maternity/parental, carer and compassionate leave and certified long-term sick leave.

For more details, click here.

IJPC’s October-December 2025 edition is now online

The current issue features Original articles on Point of Care UltraSound, Decision-making in Mechanical Ventilation Withdrawal, Impact of Early Palliative Care on Newly Diagnosed Brain Tumour Patients and interesting case reports. Please click here to read the current issue (Volume 31 | Issue 4 | October-December 2025)

The IJPC is the IAPC’s open-access peer-reviewed journal which is committed to publishing high-quality articles in the field of Palliative Care.

Please click here for further information about IJPC.

‘Singing for the Stars’: Update from November 2025 Event

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), in collaboration with Shankar Mahadevan Academy Nirvana, successfully hosted a soulful virtual musical gathering titled “Singing for the Stars” on Thursday, 20th November, 2025.

Conceptualised as an evening of harmonies,  the programme celebrated individuals receiving palliative care and their caregivers—honouring their resilience, love, and journeys. The session one again beautifully reinforced the message that ‘each person in the circle of care is a star in their own right.’

The musical eveing was led by Ms. Anushree Datar, vocalist, performing artist, and music educator with SMA Nirvana. Through her expressive renditions and soothing musical style, Ms. Datar created an atmosphere of comfort, calm, and emotional reflection.

The event was conducted virtually, making it accessible for participants from across the country. Care recipients, families, palliative care professionals, and volunteers joined the session, creating a warm and inclusive community gathering.

The increased participation from institutions across India was particularly heart-warming. Attendees joined from SAIMS, Indore; Annai Adhuragam Hospice, Kumbakonam; Medanta, Lucknow; Rohilkhand Cancer Institute, Government Medical College, Guntur, along with many other individuals, caregivers, and healthcare professionals representing various states.

This initiative is part of IAPC’s ongoing efforts to integrate holistic care experiences that nurture well-being beyond clinical interventions. Partnering with SMA Nirvana also reflects a shared vision of supporting individuals and families through the therapeutic potential of music.

The IAPC extends heartfelt appreciation to the organising teams and to every participant who joined and enriched this meaningful event.

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.