Announcements / Messages from IAPC
IAPC’s Infographic of the month: ‘Care Continuum’
The April Infographic focuses on the concept of ‘Care Continuum’.
This initiative reflects the IAPC’s constant endeavour to promote palliative care education and awareness across the country.
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 support towards this initiative.
‘Rhythms of the Heart: A Collection of Poems’ published on 21st March, 2025
The IAPC commemorated World Poetry Day with a special publication, ‘Rhythms of the Heart: A Collection of Poems’ a heartfelt collection of 54 poems penned by poets from diverse backgrounds from across India and beyond (Canada, the UK, and Poland). The collection offers an intimate glimpse into the deeply personal journeys of those facing the end of life, the healthcare workers who care for them, and the caregivers who stand beside them.
Through these verses, we explore the intricate tapestry of emotions—love, compassion, fear, loss, resilience, hope, and the complexities that come with navigating life-limiting illnesses. The collection therefore serves as a poignant reminder that palliative care extends beyond medicine; it is seen in holding space, being compassionate, and in the quiet language of love in life’s most delicate moments.
Through this initiative, we at the IAPC hope that these poems serve as a source of solace and understanding, and a gentle companion for all who walk this path—because even in life’s most uncertain moments, there is poetry.
The IAPC thanks all the contributors for their support towards this initiative. Please click here to view the publication.
IAPCON 2026: Register now to avail the Early Bird offer!
The conference organisers of the 33rd Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2026), invite everyone to register now to avail the early bird registration rates and participate in IAPCON 2026.
IAPCON 2026 is scheduled to be held between Friday, 13th February, 2026, and Sunday, 15th February 2026 at the National Institute for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (NI-MSME), Hyderabad, Telangana. Pre-conference workshops have been slated for Thursday, 12th February, 2026.
The conference is themed ‘Continuum of Care: Hospital, Hospice, and Home’ to resonate with the importance of ensuring seamless and comprehensive care for patients across all stages of their healthcare journey, emphasizing collaboration and holistic support in diverse care settings. The conference aims to therefore strengthen the palliative care network and elevate its integration into the healthcare system of the nation.
Those registering to participate in IAPCON 2026 will not only enjoy discounted registration rates but to enjoy an exciting academic and cultural lineup, including keynote addresses, orations, scientific sessions (oral and poster presentations), awards, workshops, and more.
The conference is being organised jointly by Sparsh Hospice – Centre for Palliative Care, Hyderabad, and the Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Hyderabad.
To register and for other information, please visit the conference website.
New resource added: Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a process that allows individuals to think about their goals, values and preferences in case of serious illnesses. This would include the treatment, interventions, place of care, choices for end-of life care, organ donation etc. It addresses their physical, psychological and spiritual concerns and allows them to discuss these with families as well as providers, allowing joint decision making and recording of these choices. An ‘Advance Medical Directive’ (AMD) or ‘Living will’ is the legal document that comes out as a result of these discussions.
If at any point an adult Indian Citizen is not able to make decisions regarding his /her own treatment, due to any physical or mental condition which robs them of their decision-making capacity or are unable to communicate their choices, this AMD or ‘Living will’ comes into force and guides their loved ones or healthcare providers about what they would have wanted. There is the possibility of appointing one or more legal representatives who will ensure that these choices are implemented.
The Supreme Court of India, in its landmark judgment of January 2023, had made the legal process for AMDs easier. It recognised the ‘Right to Die with Dignity’ as arising out of Article 21 of the Indian Constitution and laid down guidelines for ensuring good end -of -life care, which includes the right to refuse treatment and withdrawal and withholding of inappropriately aggressive treatment.
The free to use bundle of resources are:
- End of Life Care – A Ready Reckoner
- FAQs about End of Life and the law in India- Addressing Common Concerns
- Advance Medical Directives and Healthcare Attorney Authorisation
- Draft letter to local authority to deposit Advanced Medical Directives
The newly included resource is a template of a ‘Draft letter to local authority to deposit Advanced Medical Directives’ to help ensure that your Advance Medical Directive is officially recognized and offers guidance to clarify with the local governments/ authorities who the relevant official is, due to the possibility that a local authority may not have yet appointed the official.
Please click here to access these resources.
Tune in at 2:55 p.m. on 22nd April, 2025, for a special edition of ‘Singing for the Stars’
The IAPC and the Shankar Mahadevan Academy (SMA) Nirvana invite you to join us at 2:55 p.m. on Tuesday, 22nd April, 2025, for a national multilingual edition of ‘Singing for the Stars’.
This edition of the program is dedicated to our friends from across the country.
The upcoming concert for Singing for the Stars will be a special edition, presented by a live band from the Mumbai centre of Inspire India Project, an initiative of Shankar Mahadevan Academy (not-for-profit Trust) which provides free music education to underprivileged children. It helps them build confidence, discover their talents, and transform their lives through music.
Don’t forget to join us at 2:55 p.m. on 22nd April, 2025.
Update from the March 2025 event
The March 2025 edition of ‘Singing for the Stars’, was held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, 19th March, 2025.
The soul stirring evening of harmonies was presented by Ms Himangi Vishwaroop (Vocalist, Music Composer and Performing Artist) who presented a wonderful curation of popular songs in Hindi.
Team IAPC and Team SMA Nirvana take this opportunity to extend our gratitude to all those who joined us and for spreading smiles during the show.
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:
- Palliative Care Physician at Ganga Prem Hospice, Raiwala, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand
- Senior Resident at St Johns Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Assistant Professor at Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, Tamil Nadu
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:
- Please visit the IAPC’s National Palliative Care Directory and select the State from the drop down menu to check details of your center.
- 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.
- 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.