Announcements / Messages from IAPC

IAPC’s Infographic of the Month – Palliative Care Nurses: The Heart of Compassionate Care

12th May is observed every year as International Nurses Day. To mark this occasion, IAPC dedicates this month’s infographic to honour and celebrate palliative care nurses.

Through this infographic, we at IAPC share a message of gratitude to our remarkable colleagues:

“To every nurse who holds a hand, manages pain, listens without judgment, and walks alongside patients and families through life’s most vulnerable moments—we thank you. You are the backbone of palliative care.”

We invite you to share this infographic within your networks. It will also be available on our social media platforms and on our website.

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

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.

IAPCON 2027: Proposals Invited for Pre-Conference Workshops

Submission deadline: Sunday, 31st May, 2026

The organisers of the 34th International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care invite proposal for the Pre-Conference Workshop. The Pre-Conference Workshops are scheduled to be held on Thursday, 18th February, in Bhubaneswar.

Please read below the invitation shared by the organisers of IAPCON 2027.

Esteemed Faculty / IAPC Members,

Greetings from the Organising Committee of IAPCON 2027!

We are pleased to announce the pre-conference workshops scheduled for 18th February 2027, as part of IAPCON 2027 in Bhubaneswar.

As part of our commitment to fostering academic excellence and collaborative learning, we invite proposals for pre-conference workshops on the specified topics.

Please click here to view the details of the proposed topics.

The pre-conference workshop topics have been finalised by the Scientific Committee.

This is an excellent opportunity to contribute your expertise, share innovative practices, and engage with a diverse group of professionals and learners.

Submission Guidelines:

The workshop proposal should include:

  • Title of the workshop (please select from the list provided in the attached document)
  • Objectives
  • Target audience
  • Detailed session plan
  • Duration and format
  • Resource requirements (if any)

Submissions should be original and relevant to current practices and advancements in the field.

Last date for submission: Sunday, 31st May 2026

Selected workshops will be announced on conference website.

We look forward to your valuable contributions and active participation.

Proposals should be submitted to: iapcon2027.scientificchair@gmail.com

Warm regards,

Organising Committee

IAPCON 2027

Register for IAPCON 2027 Now to Benefit from the Early Bird Offer

Click to enlarge

The conference organisers of the 34th Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027) warmly invite you to register and take advantage of the early bird registration rates, available until 31st August 2026.

IAPCON 2027 will be held from Friday, 19th February 2027 to Sunday, 21st February 2027 at the SOA University Campus, Bhubaneswar, with pre-conference workshops scheduled on 18th February 2027.

With the theme “Humanising High-Tech Medicine: Where Algorithm Meets Empathy,” the conference will explore how advances such as artificial intelligence, precision prognostication, regenerative therapies, and digital health can be thoughtfully integrated with the core values of dignity, compassion, and personalised palliative care.

We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a meaningful and enriching experience.

To register and for further information, please visit the conference website.

WHPCA Announces World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026 Theme

‘Pain Management: An Essential Part of Palliative Care’

The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) has announced the theme for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026: ‘Pain Management: An Essential Part of Palliative Care’.

This year, WHPCD will be celebrated on Saturday, 10th October, 2026.

The theme has been chosen to re-emphasize the importance of holistic pain management in palliative care, encompassing physical, psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. The interaction among these components of “total pain” is often complex, yet clearly evident in patients with serious illnesses.

WHPCA also announced that it will develop a comprehensive toolkit, including key messages, sub-themes, and social media resources, to support the palliative care fraternity in organising World Day campaigns. The official logo for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026 will be released soon.

Withdrawal of Life Support Treatments: Key Takeaways from the Supreme Court Judgment

The Supreme Court of India’s decision on 11th March 2026 in the Harish Rana vs Union of India & Others case marks a significant step in the evolving understanding of the right to life and the right to die with dignity under the Constitution.

The Court has sought to bring greater clarity to the process of withdrawing life support in appropriate cases. The ruling also highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive legal framework to address the complex ethical and medical dimensions of end-of-life care in India.

This resource presents 11 salient points from the judgment, serving as a practical ready reckoner for those engaged in palliative care.

We are grateful to Dr Geeta Joshi (President, IAPC) for preparing this concise and insightful summary.

Read the full report here.

Advancing Palliative Care in India: ICMR Invites Proposals for Multi-State Research

Last date for submission: Thursday, 28th May 2026

The Indian Council of Medical Research invites Expressions of Interest (EOI) from eligible research teams for a multistate implementation research study aimed at improving the coverage of high-quality palliative care interventions in India.

This important initiative seeks to develop, implement, and evaluate scalable and sustainable models of palliative care integrated within the public health system, with a focus on generating policy-relevant evidence.

Eligible institutions, including medical colleges, research organisations, universities, government and semi-government bodies, and NGOs, are encouraged to apply through the online portal.

Last date for submission: Thursday, 28th May 2026

For detailed guidelines, eligibility criteria, and submission process, please refer to the full document.

Out to Change Their Worlds: IAHPC Showcases Scholar Insights from IAPCON 2027

The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) has featured insights from 11 IAHPC Scholars from different regions of India who attended the 33rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027), held from 13th to 15th February in Hyderabad. The scholars shared valuable learning experiences from the conference and highlighted how they plan to apply these insights in their day-to-day practice and contribute to the development of palliative care.

Please click here to read the full report.

Singing for the Stars

Update from the April 2026 Event

The Indian Association of Palliative Care extends its sincere gratitude to the Shankar Mahadevan Academy Nirvana (SMA Nirvana) for presenting a marvellous musical evening dedicated to our real stars on 15th April 2026  from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Palliative care institutions, professionals, carers, volunteers and our real stars- individuals receiving care and their families from across India came together to join the programme.  

We extend our heartfelt congratulations and sincere appreciation to the talented vocalists and performing artists, Gayatri Bose and Rehan Mustafa, for bringing joy and creating smiles on the faces of our real stars.  

Our sincere thanks also go to the institutions whose consistent efforts made this event possible, including SAIMS Indore, Annai Adhuraham Hospice, Kumbakonam, Respite Care Centre, TMC Mumbai, and BBCI Guwahati, along with each and every participant who contributed to the success of this beautiful initiative.

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.