Announcements / Messages from IAPC
IAPC’s Infographic of the month
The July Infographic focuses on the concept of ‘Anticipatory Medications in Palliative Medicine’.
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 (Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesia, RIMS, Ranchi) for his enthusiasm and constant support towards this initiative.
The IAPC welcomes our new Central Council Members!
During the IAPC’s Annual General Body Meeting (AGBM) in Ahmedabad, on Saturday, 10th February, 2024, the IAPC’s General Body authorised the IAPC’s Central Council (CC) body to identify and appoint two members each for the East Zone and the North East Zone, one member for the Co-opted Members category and one member for the overseas category.
We welcome each of the following CC members (2024 – 2026) who joined us in June, 2024.
- East Zone (2024 – 2026): Prof. Bidhu K Mohanti and Dr. Rudranil Nandi
- North-East Zone (2024 – 2026): Dr. Hiranya Kumar Das and Dr. Obangjungla
- Co-opted Member: Ms Poonam Bagai
- Overseas member: Dr. Ho Shirlynn
We welcome each of you onboard! We are certain that the IAPC will benefit greatly from your vast experience and expertise.
Please click here to view the complete details of all the CC members.
Get clicking: Submissions invited for the IAPC’s ‘A photo journey – Looking through the prism of Palliative Care’
The IAPC invites entries to celebrate this year’s ‘World Photography Day’ (19th August, 2024) with a special initiative ‘A photo journey – Looking through the prism of Palliative Care’.
This initiative has been themed, ‘Looking through the prism of Palliative Care’ in observance of this year’s World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.
Anyone from the palliative care community is eligible to participate in this initiative. Those interested are requested to submit original photographs which resonate with the theme: ‘Looking through the prism of Palliative Care’. Each individual is encouraged to submit a maximum of 2 photographs in jpeg, jpg or png format with each image having a minimum of 2 MB and a maximum 5 MB size.
The photos adhering to the guidelines will be published on the IAPC’s website on 19th August, 2024, in commemoration of ‘World Photography Day’.
Please click here for complete information about the initiative and the submission guidelines.
IAPCON 2025: Abstract submissions open! Registrations invited for Pre-conference workshops
Dr Anjum Joad (Chair, Scientific Committee, IAPCON 2025) and her team are inviting researchers to submit abstracts of their work in palliative care for presentation at the 32nd Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2025). The team has also announced interesting categories for submission of abstracts. Grab this chance to showcase your work to the world! Please click here to read further information about abstract submissions.
The scientific committee is also inviting registrations for an interesting line up of the pre-conference workshops scheduled to be held on Thursday, 30th January, 2025. For further details regarding the pre conference workshops, please click here.
The theme of IAPCON 2025, the scientific fiesta, is ‘Evidence based Palliative Care’. The conference is scheduled to be held at the Auditorium of AIIMS Jammu, between Friday, 31st January, 2025, and Sunday, 2nd February, 2025, with pre-conference workshops being slated for Thursday, 30th January, 2025.
IAPCON 2025 is organised by the Jammu and Kashmir Chapter of IAPC, in collaboration with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jammu.
Please click here to visit the conference website for further information and to register for IAPCON 2025.
Resources for Living Will and Healthcare Power of Attorney Authorisation are now available
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 representative 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.
During IAPCON 2024, at Ahmedabad, the IAPC has formed a task force of members who have volunteered to take forward the tasks related to a public campaign for Death Literacy and Advance Care Planning as an integral part of palliative care services at all levels. All the IAPC members are encouraged to peruse these documents and take up the task within their own areas of work in all the regions of the country.
The documents relevant to ACP:
- 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
Your feedback and suggestions are welcome. Those who would like to join the taskforce may also send an email to nioiapc@gmail.com.
These resources are available on both the IAPC’s website and the Pallium India‘s website.
Tune in at 2:50 p.m. on 18th July, 2024, for a multilingual edition of ‘Singing for the Stars’
The IAPC and the Shankar Mahadevan Academy Nirvana (SMA Nirvana) invite you to join us at 2:50 p.m. on Thursday, 18th July, 2024, 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 evening of harmonies will be presented by Ms Vaishnavi Shriram (Vocalist, Song Composer and a Performing Artist).
Don’t forget to join us at 2:50 p.m. on 18th July, 2024.
Update from the June event
The June edition of ‘Singing for the Stars’ was held on Thursday, 13th June, 2024.
An energy filled evening of harmonies was presented by Ms Nimisha K (A Vocalist, A Performing Artist, and an Educator with the SMA). Ms Nimisha sang popular numbers in Tamil and 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
The IAPC’s Careers page has been updated to reflect new vacancies from across the country
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.
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.