Dr K. Suresh Kumar Selected as Recipient of WHO South-East Asia Regional Award for Public Health Champions 2026

Dr K. Suresh Kumar, Founder Director of the Institute of Palliative Medicine, Kozhikode, Kerala (WHO Collaborating Centre for Building Country Capacity in Palliative Care and Long-Term Care) has been selected as the recipient of the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award 2026 for Public Health Champions, announced by the WHO Regional Office for South-East Asia on 8 August 2026.

The award recognizes Dr Kumar for pioneering a community-owned model that has transformed community-based palliative care across multiple countries. Over more than three decades of leading efforts to advance palliative care, he has been at the forefront of the internationally recognized ‘Kerala Model’ — a community-owned approach that integrates professionals, volunteers, local governments and primary health care to deliver compassionate, affordable and sustainable palliative care.

The impact has been remarkable, with the model contributing to palliative care coverage reaching nearly 60% of Kerala’s population. Its influence has extended well beyond India, having been adapted across Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Bhutan, showing how community participation can expand access to quality palliative care across diverse health systems.

Dr Kumar shares this year’s honour with Dr Nittaya Phanuphak of Thailand (recognized for her HIV prevention work) and Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh (NNJS), Nepal’s largest eye-care philanthropy.

Now in its second year, the award recognizes individuals and institutions whose sustained leadership and contributions have led to significant and lasting improvements in public health across the Region, selected this year from 102 nominations. The awards will be presented during the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, to be held in Dili, Timor-Leste, in September 2026.

Congratulations to Dr Suresh Kumar on this well-deserved recognition! Your initiatives are always a great inspiration for generations of palliative care professionals and the larger palliative care community across nations.

Dr Anuja Damani Takes Over as Head, Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, KMC Manipal

Dr Anuja Damani, India’s first MD Palliative Medicine graduate, has taken over as Head of the Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College, MAHE, Manipal — one of the country’s largest palliative medicine departments in terms of faculty strength, inpatient beds and scope of services. She will also be the first MD Palliative Medicine graduate to head a specialist postgraduate training program.

Dr Damani completed her MD in Palliative Medicine from Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai in 2015. Her professional journey began as a Senior Resident at TMH, where she served for two years from 2015 to 2017, followed by appointments as Assistant Professor and then Associate Professor at the same institution until September 2021. In September 2021, she joined Kasturba Medical College as Associate Professor, and continued to serve as Additional Professor in the same department until her promotion to Professor and Head of the Unit in June 2025. Over the course of her career, she has received several notable awards and recognitions and has led multiple research projects in Palliative Medicine.

Handing over the responsibility, Dr Naveen Salins, (Director Research, Directorate of Research, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal), wished Dr Anuja the very best in her endeavour and said he looks forward to her leadership.

Reflecting on her journey, Dr Anuja said: “Thank you all for your support and wishes. A special thanks to all my mentors for your guidance and blessings.”

Congratulations to Dr Anuja Damani on this well-deserved achievement!  Her journey stands as a model and inspiration for young palliative care specialists across the country.

Dr Manoj Ravi Receives ANBAI Best Thesis Award 2026

Dr Manoj Ravi, DNB Palliative Medicine resident, Department of Palliative Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, has been conferred the ANBAI Best Thesis Award 2026 under the Palliative Medicine – Minor Specialty Grouped category, in recognition of the quality, originality and academic merit of his thesis.

His award-winning thesis, “A Qualitative Study Exploring the Views Among Pulmonologists Towards Referring Patients with Non-Oncological Chronic Respiratory Disease for Palliative Care,” was co-authored with Dr Raghavendra and Dr Sunil Kumar.

The award was presented at the Association of National Board Accredited Institutions (ANBAI) Annual Conclave 2026, held on 30th August 2026 at Baptist Hospital, Bengaluru, and included a prize of Rs. 50,000 along with a Certificate of Merit.

Congratulations to Dr Manoj Ravi on this well-deserved recognition! This recognition is a testament to his dedication, hard work, sincerity, and commitment to excellence. We wish you the very best!