Announcements / Messages from IAPC

IAPC’s Infographic of the month: ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’

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 4th infographic from this special series focuses on the concept of ‘Preparing Palliative Care Teams for a Humanitarian Crisis.’

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 above to download the Infographic for November 2025.

Please click here to access IAPC’s infographics published till date.


Election Notification by Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)

Notice is hereby given to all members of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), that elections (if any) will be held on Saturday, 14th February, 2026, during IAPCON 2026, for the below mentioned posts:

  • Executive Council (IAPC) Regional Representatives:
    1. Western Region (2026-2028) – 01 post
    2. Northern Region (2026-2028) – 02 Posts
    3. Southern Region (2026-2028) -02 Posts
    4. Eastern Region (2026-2028) – 02 posts
    5. North-Eastern Region (2026-2028) -02 Posts
  • Hon Secretary IAPC (2026 to 2029) – 01 post.
  • Chairperson Academy of Palliative Medicine (APM) (2026-2029) -01 Post.
  • Secretary General APM (2026-2029) – 01 post

Important dates for the upcoming IAPC Elections:

  • Last date to submit online nomination: Wednesday, 10th December, 2025
  • Last date to withdraw nomination: One day before Election date by 5:30pm
  • Election date (if needed): Saturday, 14thFebruary, 2026

The scanned copy of the signed and completed nomination form is to be emailed to the Secretary, IAPC, at iapcelections@gmail.com before 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 10th December, 2025. Nominations submitted to any other email address will not be accepted. Incomplete nomination forms will be rejected.

Please note that Applicants must use one form for one nomination.

For details and to download application form, please click here.

In case of any queries, please write to the IAPC’s secretariat at nioiapc@gmail.com


IAPC invites Proposal for 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 to organise 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.

The conference venue for IAPCON 2028, will be decided in the IAPC’s Annual General Body Meeting held in Hyderabad in February, 2026, on the basis of the proposals received by the Secretary.

The 34th Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027) will be organised by the Institute of Medical Sciences (IMS) & SUM Hospital, Siksha O Anusandhan (SOA University), Bhubaneswar.


IAPCON 2026: Pre-Conference Workshop Themes and Information Flyers Released

The Scientific Committee of the 33rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2026) has released the Pre-Conference Workshop Flyers, highlighting a diverse range of workshop themes. These workshops will be conducted on Thursday, 12th February 2026, across multiple venues in Hyderabad.

Each workshop theme has been thoughtfully curated to address advanced topics relevant to the multidisciplinary palliative care team, including both professionals and volunteers, to enhance their knowledge and skills in various aspects of palliative care.

Click here to download the flyers

The organisers of IAPCON 2026 warmly invite all delegates to register for the workshops along with the main conference. Visit the IAPCON 2026 website to explore and download the pre-conference flyers.

The 33rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care will be held from 13th to 15th February 2026 at the National Institute for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Ni-MSME), Hyderabad.

Along with its rich scientific programme, the conference also features unique competitions with attractive prizes, offering a blend of learning and engagement.

Researchers from across the globe will present their valuable work through poster and paper presentations. The Scientific Committee encourages members of the palliative care fraternity to make the most of this opportunity to showcase their research.

Register now and submit your abstracts to be part of this academic celebration! Abstract submission deadline: 30th December 2025

Click here for further details.


The 1st WBIAPCON: Register Now and Be Part of a Pioneering Event in West Bengal

For the first time in West Bengal, a dedicated Palliative Care Conference is being organized by the West Bengal Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC). The event aims to bring together healthcare professionals and caregivers committed to improving the quality of life of patients with serious illnesses.

The conference will be held on Sunday, 23rd November, 2025, with pre-conference workshops on Saturday, 22nd November, 2025.

Three interactive workshops on Cancer Pain Management, Nursing Issues in Palliative Care, and Communication Skills will be conducted at Dr. Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Thakurpukur, Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Rajarhat, and TATA Medical Centre, Rajarhat, respectively.

On 23rd November, CME sessions, featuring experts sharing insights and updates in palliative care practice, will be held at TATA Medical Centre, Rajarhat, Kolkata.

The Organising Committee warmly invites palliative care fraternity to join this landmark conference.

Register now and be a part of this pioneering event in West Bengal!

Please click here for registration.

Click here for Paper/Poster Presentation Guidelines. Last date for abstract submission: Saturday, 15th November, 2025.

Participants are also invited to register for cultural shows and competitions. Download Talent Guidelines here.


IAPC Joins the Global Celebration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2025

To mark the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) 2025, the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) led several initiatives that reflected this year’s theme Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care.” Through thought-provoking articles, engaging webinars, and creative competitions, the IAPC brought together voices from across India and the world to highlight compassion, policy, and collective responsibility in advancing access to care for all.

Read the full report on the IAPC’s Celebration on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.


Glimpses of WHPCD 2025 Celebrations in India

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) proudly presents glimpses from the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2025 (WHPCD) Celebrations held across India. These inspiring moments are now featured on a special WHPCD Celebration page on IAPC website. Congratulations to all those who celebrated WHPCD with various programs and competitions. Your enthusiastic participation and creativity truly reflect the spirit of compassion and care.

Please click here to explore the highlights and view the celebrations submitted by institutions and organizations from across the country.

Congratulations to all those who celebrated WHPCD. Your efforts to showcase your event with the world by submitting on IAPC website and representing your organisations efforts in this collective movement has been greatly appreciated.

If you haven’t yet shared your WHPCD celebration with us, there’s still time! The submission page remains open, and the IAPC warmly invites you to submit your reports and photographs of the events organised by your institution during October 2025.

This special publication aims to bring together the diverse celebrations from across the country — showcasing inspiring initiatives that not only encourage and motivate but also help us learn and grow from each other’s experiences.

Please click here to share details of how you celebrated WHPCD at your institution.

Please click here to read the published submissions.


BMC Palliative Care Call for papers – “Home-based palliative care”

BMC Palliative Care is calling for submission of papers to a Collection on “Home-based palliative care.” This Collection invites research focused on home-based palliative care, emphasizing its critical role in enhancing the quality of life for patients facing life-limiting illnesses. The submission deadline has been extended to 10 February 2026.

The journal welcomes Submissions that explore innovative models, caregiver experiences, and the integration of technology in palliative care, aiming to inform best practices and policies that prioritize patient-centred approaches in end-of-life care are welcomed.

With advancements in telehealth technologies and multidisciplinary care models, high-quality palliative care can now be delivered remotely—enhancing accessibility, quality of life, and family satisfaction while reducing hospital admissions. This special issue aims to explore innovative research, practical experiences, and policy perspectives that can strengthen the delivery of home-based palliative care across diverse settings.

Topics of interest include:

  • Models of home-based palliative care
  • Family caregiver experiences in home hospice
  • Telehealth in palliative and end-of-life care
  • Access to palliative medicine and resources
  • Cultural considerations and inclusivity
  • Policy evaluation and funding models
  • Education and training for home-care providers
  • Comparative outcomes: home vs. institutional settings

Guest Editors:

  • Dr. Arun Ghoshal, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India, Email: arun.ghoshal@manipal.edu
  • Dr. Heidi Holmen, Oslo Metropolitan University, Norway

Submission Deadline extended to: 10 February 2026

Click here to submit your paper.


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.