Announcements / Messages from IAPC
IAPC’s Infographic of the month: ‘Psychosocial, Spiritual & Grief Support: Why and How This Matters in Conflict Settings’
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 5th infographic from this special series focuses on ‘Psychosocial, Spiritual & Grief Support: Why and How This Matters in Conflict Settings.’
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 at left to download the Infographic for February 2026.
Please click here to access IAPC’s infographics published till date.
IAPCON 2026: The countdown begins! Let’s celebrate this Academic Fiesta
The Indian Association of Palliative Care warmly invites you to the 33rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2026), scheduled to be held in Hyderabad, from 13th to 15th February, 2026 with interesting pre-conference workshops on Thursday, 12th February, 2026.
IAPCON 2026 themed “Continuum of Care: Hospital, Hospice, and Home“, has been thoughtfully designed to offer a rich academic programme alongside meaningful opportunities for dialogue, skill building, and collaboration. With plenaries, workshops, panel discussions and curated learning tracks, the conference aims to strengthen practice across settings, including hospital hospice and home while responding to the evolving needs of patients, families, and care teams.
Beyond the scientific programme, IAPCON 2026 offers a welcoming space to reconnect with colleagues, celebrate shared values, and experience the cultural warmth of Hyderabad.
The conference will be held at National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (NIMSME), Yousufguda, Hyderabad. For more information, please visit the conference website.
We look forward to your participation in this academic fiesta of knowledge, collaboration, and innovation.
Excited about IAPCON 2026? Click here to read the curtain raiser, “IAPCON 2026: Thoughtfully Reimagining the Conference Experience”, by Dr. Raju S.K.V., Organising Secretary, IAPCON 2026
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.
Calling all palliative care community to sign a petition to NMC
A recent review article in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology (January 2026) by Chaturvedi et al. underscores a significant deficiency in medical education. The absence of a specific chapter on palliative care pharmacology in undergraduate pharmacology textbooks creates a gaps in one of the most essential skills. The World Health Organisation defines palliative care as a method that enhances the quality of life for patients and their families confronting life-limiting illnesses. Although palliative care has been integrated into Universal Health Coverage, the competency-based medical curriculum by NMC is lacking because:
- Standard Indian undergraduate medical textbooks do not provide structured, consolidated information
- Medical undergraduate students are taught drugs used in palliative care in pharmacology textbooks in a piecemeal manner across different chapters, rather than from a palliative care perspective. Consequently, they miss essential knowledge and skills related to basic palliative care medications that every MBBS student should possess. This gap deprives them, as physicians of first contact, of the ability to provide appropriate palliative and end of life care to patients in need.
- There isn’t enough focus on how to prescribe opioids for pain and dyspnoea management.
- There isn’t enough guidance on pharmacokinetics in terminally ill patients and drug interactions.
Our Request
We ask the National Medical Commission (NMC) to ensure addition of a separate competency on ‘Palliative Care Pharmacology’, just as we have Paediatric and Geriatric Pharmacology competencies for undergraduate medical students. Further, Indian Pharmacology textbooks should include a separate chapter on Palliative and end of life care Pharmacology.
We ask that the undergraduate pharmacology textbooks have a separate chapter on “Palliative Care Pharmacology” that cover,
- An introduction to the principles of palliative care and how to manage symptoms
- The WHO analgesic ladder for pain management
- How to write prescriptions for opioids, including how to titrate and manage breakthrough pain
- Co-analgesics and adjuvant analgesics
- Managing GI and CNS symptoms in terminal illness
- Pharmacokinetics in terminally ill patients and how they interact with other drugs
We request the palliative care community to sign this petition.
Treat With Care: An Interactive Theatre Performance
Treat With Care is an interactive theatre performance that uses real stories to explore how serious illness is not the end of living with dignity. Through powerful storytelling and audience engagement the performance highlights care that goes beyond medical treatment and brings compassion empathy and humanity into focus.
The performances will be held in Hyderabad on 11th February 2026 from 5.30 pm to 7.00 pm at K L N Prasad Auditorium FTCCI Red Hills and on 12 February 2026 from 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm at Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital. Presented by First Drop and supported by multiple palliative care partners this event is open to healthcare professionals, students caregivers and the wider community interested in compassionate care.
Final Call for Proposal: 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.
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.
Singing for the Stars – A Virtual Evening of Harmonies
Update from January 2026 Event
The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), in collaboration with Shankar Mahadevan Academy – SMA Nirvana, successfully hosted “Singing for the Stars”, a virtual musical evening on 28th January 2026, dedicated to individuals in care and their caregivers. Conceived as a soulful tribute to those at the heart of palliative care, the programme created a warm and reflective space, celebrating compassion, resilience, and human connection through music. The event was well received by participants across the country and stood out as a meaningful and memorable experience for all who attended.
The evening was beautifully led by Ms Vaishnavi Shriram, acclaimed vocalist, music composer, and performing artist, whose evocative and heartfelt renditions deeply touched the audience, bringing moments of comfort, calm, and joy. Participants also enjoyed songs by Ms Rajni Yadre and Ms Jyoti (Nurse, Respite Care Centre, TMH, Mumbai). Doctors, nurses, volunteers, and other healthcare professionals joined the programme, making it a truly inclusive celebration. IAPC extends its warm congratulations to Ms Shriram and to all those who contributed to making this programme a memorable 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:
- Palliative Care Consultant at Lakshmi Pain and Palliative Care Trust, Tamil Nadu
- Institutional Fellowship at Sir H N Reliance foundation hospital, Maharashtra
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.