Awards and Recognitions
Dr Debalina Bhaumik Wins Logo Design Competition Organised by IAPC’s North-East Chapter
The North-East Regional Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (NE-IAPC) has announced Dr Debalina Bhaumik (State prog coordinator National Program for Palliative Care, NHM. Govt. of Tripura) as the winner of its Logo Designing Competition.
“Her design beautifully captures the spirit of palliative care, compassion, dignity, inclusivity and hope, while reflecting the unique identity and collective aspirations of Northeast India,” the selection committee said while announcing the winner.
The winning design will serve as the official logo of the NE-IAPC Chapter.
As a token of appreciation, Dr Debalina will receive a cash prize of ₹3,000.
IAPC warmly appreciates Dr Debalina’s creativity and design skills. Congratulations on this achievement!
Dr Mayank Gupta Receives Special Recognition for His Work on ‘PalaSh’ at the World Congress on Pain, Bangkok
Dr Mayank Gupta (Faculty, AIIMS Rishikesh, Ex-Additional Professor and head, Department of Anaesthesia, AIIMS Bathinda) has received special recognition for his work on’ PalaSh’, an AI-enabled platform designed to address gaps in palliative care delivery, at the 21st World Congress on Pain, held in Bangkok, Thailand, from 26 to 30 October 2026.
His work was selected for the prestigious Poster Tour. He was also the only presenter from India selected for a podium presentation.
Reflecting on this recognition, Dr Gupta said that PalaSh was born from a simple belief: “Every patient should be visible, every need recognised, and every need translated into action.” What began as an effort to address gaps in palliative care delivery has evolved into an AI-enabled platform that supports over 5,000 patients and has been adopted by multiple organisations.
He expressed the hope that PalaSh would demonstrate how thoughtfully designed technology can make palliative care more accessible, coordinated and equitable. As he aptly put it, “Technology should not replace compassion; it should help compassion reach further.”
The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) warmly congratulates Dr Mayank Gupta on this achievement!
Gilly Burn and Dr Dinesh Chandra Goswamy Honoured for Their Contributions to Palliative Care
Gilly Burn, a pioneering nurse in palliative care in the UK and Founder of Cancer Relief India, and Dr Dinesh Chandra Goswamy, a pioneer of palliative care in Northeast India and Founder of the Guwahati Pain and Palliative Care Society, were honoured at the IAPC–Alpha Palliative Care International Conference, held at Edamuttam, Thrissur, from 9 to 11 October 2026.
The honours recognised their significant contributions to the development of palliative care in different regions of India. As part of the Honouring the Pioneers ceremony, both received awards of ₹1 lakh each in recognition of their pioneering work and lasting contributions to the field.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Dr Geeta Joshi (President, IAPC), Mr K. M. Noordeen (Chairman, Alpha Palliative Care) and Dr Sanghamitra Bora (Secretary, IAPC).
IAPC congratulates Gilly Burn and Dr Dinesh Chandra Goswamy on this well-deserved recognition and acknowledges their valuable contributions to advancing palliative care in India.
MNJIO&RCC, Hyderabad, BMCH&RC, Jaipur, and SAIMS, Indore Recognised by ESMO for Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care
The MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre (MNJIO&RCC), Hyderabad, Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (BMCH&RC), Jaipur, and Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore (SAIMS) have been recognised as ESMO Designated Centres for Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care Services.
The recognition was announced at the ESMO 2026 Congress, held in Madrid, Spain, from 23 to 27 October 2026.
Dr Aakash Hinduja received the award on behalf of MNJIO&RCC, Hyderabad. On receiving the award, Dr Akash Hinduja shared: “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication and visionary leadership of Dr Gayatri Palat (Professor and Head of the Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, MNJIO&RCC, Hyderabad), along with the commitment and contributions of the entire Palliative Care Team.
BMCH&RC, Jaipur, received the renewal of its ESMO accreditation, with Dr Sakshi Bhatia receiving the recognition on behalf of the centre.
Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore also received renewed ESMO accreditation.
The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) warmly congratulates these institutions and their teams on this achievement.
This recognition highlights their commitment to integrating palliative care into oncology services and strengthening comprehensive care for individuals living with cancer.
Congratulations to Dr Aakash Hinduja on Receiving the ESMO Merit Award
The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) congratulates Dr Aakash Hinduja (Assistant Professor, Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, MNJIO&RCC, Hyderabad) on receiving the ESMO Merit Award for Rapid Oral Presentation at the ESMO 2026 Congress, held in Madrid, Spain, from 23 to 27 October 2026.
His award-winning presentation, titled “Comparison Between Indwelling Tunnel Catheter vs Pigtail Catheter for the Management of Malignant Ascites”, highlights an important area of clinical practice in palliative care.
Dr Hinduja extends special thanks to his mentors, Dr Praneeth Suvvari and Dr Praveen Kodisharapu, for their guidance and support.
IAPC warmly wishes Dr Hinduja continued success in his academic and professional endeavours.