Announcements / Messages from IAPC

IAPC’s Infographic of the month: Breathing Easier

As a part of the ongoing series on “Integrating Palliative Care across Medical Specialities”, we are delighted to present the IAPC’s Infographic for June 2026: “Breathing Easier”, Palliative Care in Advanced Respiratory Illness.

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 IAPC’s infographics published till date.

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.

IAPCON 2027 Registrations Open: Early Bird Offer Until 31st August 2026

The conference organisers of the 34th Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027) warmly invite you to register and take advantage of the early bird registration rates, available until 31st August 2026.

IAPCON 2027 will be held from Friday, 19th February 2027 to Sunday, 21st February 2027 at the SOA University Campus, Bhubaneswar, with pre-conference workshops scheduled on 18th February 2027.

With the theme “Humanising High-Tech Medicine: Where Algorithm Meets Empathy,” the conference will explore how advances such as artificial intelligence, precision prognostication, regenerative therapies, and digital health can be thoughtfully integrated with the core values of dignity, compassion, and personalised palliative care.

We look forward to your participation in what promises to be a meaningful and enriching experience.

To register and for further information, please visit the conference website.

Explore the Latest April–June 2026 Issue of the Indian Journal of Palliative Care

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) is pleased to announce the publication of the latest issue of the Indian Journal of Palliative Care (IJPC), Volume 32, Issue 2 (April–June 2026). This latest edition of IJPC is now available online.

This issue features a diverse collection of original research articles, reviews, case reports, and scholarly perspectives that contribute to the growing body of knowledge in palliative care. Readers will find valuable insights into clinical practice, education, policy, and innovations aimed at improving the quality of life of patients and families facing serious illness.

We invite healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, students, and all those interested in palliative care to explore the latest issue through the link below:

https://jpalliativecare.com/issue/2026-32-2/

The Indian Journal of Palliative Care is the official peer-reviewed journal of the Indian Association of Palliative Care. Published quarterly, IJPC serves as an important platform for disseminating high-quality research, fostering academic dialogue, and advancing evidence-based palliative care practice in India and across the world. Through its commitment to scholarly excellence, IJPC continues to support the growth and development of palliative care as a vital healthcare discipline.

IAPC and Alpha Palliative Care Collaborate to Organise International Conference on Palliative Care in Commemoration of WHPCD 2026

In commemoration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) 2026, the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), in collaboration with Alpha Palliative Care, Thrissur, Kerala is organising an International Conference on Palliative Care from 9th – 11th October 2026.

The conference is being planned as a significant academic and advocacy event, bringing together healthcare professionals, educators, researchers, policymakers, volunteers, and palliative care practitioners from across India and around the world. The working group for the conference has now been finalised, and preparations are underway to ensure a meaningful and impactful programme.

The conference will focus on this years’ World Hospice and Palliative Care Days’ theme: “Pain Management: An Essential Part of Palliative Care.”

World Hospice and Palliative Care Day is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of October as a Global Day of Action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care worldwide. In 2026, WHPCD will be observed on 10th October 2026. The day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of palliative care, advocate for equitable access to services, and highlight the need for relief from pain and suffering for people living with serious illnesses and their families.

IAPC invites its members, palliative care professionals, institutions, students, volunteers, and supporters to actively participate in the conference and join the various activities being organised as part of the WHPCD 2026 celebrations.

IAPC Celebrates International Nurses Day

To commemorate International Nurses Day, observed annually on 12th May, the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) featured an exclusive article titled “One Nurse, Many Beginnings: Gilly Burn and the Early Story of Palliative Care in India.”

The article pays tribute to the pioneering contributions of nursing leadership in shaping the early palliative care movement in India. Through an engaging conversation with Gilly Burn, readers gain valuable insights into the evolution of palliative care in the country and the pivotal role played by nurses in its development.

We invite our readers to explore this fascinating account of the early history of palliative care in India and the remarkable contributions of nurses who helped lay its foundations. Click here to read the article.

IAPC Pays Tribute to Ms. Usha Rani Mohanty (Former Treasurer, IAPC)

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) mourns the sad demise of Ms. Usha Rani Mohanty, a deeply dedicated palliative care professional and advocate whose compassionate service brought comfort to countless lives. Ms. Usha Rani Mohanty passed away peacefully on 23rd April 2026.

Ms. Mohanty served as a Senior Nursing Officer at the Bokaro General Hospital. Through her work with Team Kosish, Jharkhand, she tirelessly contributed to advancing palliative care services in rural Jharkhand. She also served as the Treasurer of IAPC from 2017 to 2020.

Ms. Mohanty is survived by her husband and son.

IAPC extends its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. Her legacy of compassion and service will continue to inspire the palliative care community.

IAPC’s Tribute to Dr Dinesh Kumar Singh

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) expresses its profound sorrow on the passing of Dr Dinesh Kumar Singh, a distinguished pioneer in pain management and palliative care, and a Life Member of the IAPC, who passed away on 20th May 2026 following a prolonged illness.

Dr Singh spent a significant part of his academic career at Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi, before going on to become the Founder Director of AIIMS Bathinda. He also served as the President of the Indian Society for the Study of Pain (ISSP) during 2001–2002.

The IAPC pays heartfelt tribute to Dr Dinesh Kumar Singh’s life and legacy. His wisdom, leadership, and unwavering commitment to patient care will be remembered with deep gratitude and respect.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family during this difficult time.

May his soul rest in peace.

Singing for the Stars

Update from the May 2026 Event

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), in collaboration with the Shankar Mahadevan Academy Nirvana (SMA Nirvana), continues to present Singing for the Stars, a virtual musical programme designed to bring joy and companionship to individuals receiving palliative care and their families across India. The May 2026 edition of the programme was held on Wednesday, 20th May 2026, from 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The session proved to be a delightful and memorable experience for participants, thanks to the captivating musical performance by the talented young artist, Ms Archisha Rao from Bengaluru, a vocalist and performing artist. Her soulful renditions and engaging presence created a warm and uplifting atmosphere for all those attended.

As in previous editions, music enthusiasts, healthcare professionals, and volunteers involved in palliative care joined the programme, along with several palliative care institutions and hospices. Annai Adhuragam Hospice, Thimakudi, Kumbakonam (Tamil Nadu), Respite Care Centre, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, SAIMS, Indore, and BBCI, Guwahati participated in the event and broadcast it live for individuals receiving palliative care at their centres and for their family members. Clinicians, volunteers, and other staff members from these institutions also joined the programme.

A special highlight of the session was the participation of Ms Rajni Yadre, who joined Ms Archisha in singing a song and received warm applause and appreciation from everyone present.

Ms Archisha performed a variety of songs in regional languages, including Kannada and Tamil, as well as Hindi. Her melodious voice and heartfelt performance were greatly appreciated by participants across the country.

IAPC once again expresses its sincere gratitude to SMA Nirvana for its continued partnership in bringing moments of happiness, comfort, and connection to our “Real Stars” through the healing power of music.

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:

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:

  1. Please visit the IAPC’s National Palliative Care Directory and select the State from the drop down menu to check details of your center.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.