IAPC’s Infographic of the month: Respite Care

As part of the Infographic Series on “Care Continuum”, we are excited to present the IAPC Infographic for November 2026: ‘Respite Care’

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 infographics published till date.

We thank Dr. Wasim Hoda (Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesia, Pain, Palliative and Critical Care, Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi, Jharkhand) for his valuable support towards this initiative.

IAPC Features WHPCD Celebrations from Across India

A Splash of Creativity for Compassionate Care!

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) proudly presents glimpses of the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) 2026 celebrations from across India. The celebrations brought together institutions, organisations, healthcare professionals, volunteers and communities through a range of inspiring programmes, awareness activities and creative initiatives, reflecting the collective commitment to advancing palliative care.

These moments are now being brought together on a special WHPCD 2026 Celebration page on the IAPC website, offering an opportunity to explore the diverse ways in which the day was observed across the country.

IAPC congratulates all the institutions and organisations that celebrated WHPCD and extends its appreciation to everyone who contributed to making these celebrations meaningful. Your enthusiasm, creativity and efforts to share your experiences with the wider palliative care community are truly valued. By documenting and sharing these initiatives, you have contributed to a collective platform for learning, inspiration and collaboration.

This special compilation aims to showcase the diversity of WHPCD celebrations across India, highlighting innovative initiatives and meaningful activities that can encourage and motivate others while providing opportunities to learn from one another’s experiences.

If you have not yet shared your WHPCD 2026 celebrations with us, we warmly invite you to submit your reports and photographs. Submit here.

 Let us bring these inspiring stories together and celebrate the collective efforts of the palliative care community across India. Explore the celebrations here.

Introducing the 3^rd Edition of the Global Atlas of Palliative Care

The Worldwide Hospice Palliative Care Alliance (WHPCA) released the 3^rd Edition of the Global Atlas of Palliative Care on 9 October 2026, during the 50^th Montréal International Palliative Care Congress. The Atlas presents a global picture of palliative care needs, service availability, and access to essential medicines.

The report highlights that an estimated 73.5 million people need palliative care every year, yet only around 14% of this need is met by specialised palliative care services. The situation is particularly concerning in low- and middle-income countries, where only 4% of those in need have access to such services.

The Atlas also highlights significant gaps in access to care:

• 62.4% of people needing palliative care require it before their last year of life.
• Non-communicable diseases account for 73.6% of adult palliative care needs worldwide
• An estimated 10.6 million children need palliative care.
• Around 80% of the world’s population has little or no access to essential controlled medicines.

Despite these challenges, there has been measurable progress. Between 2017 and 2025, the number of specialised palliative care services worldwide increased from approximately 25,000 to 33,720, while the number of people served rose from nearly 7 million to more than 10.4 million.

Released ahead of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2026, which focused on pain management as an essential part of palliative care, the Atlas serves as an important resource for understanding the gaps, recognising progress and strengthening global advocacy for equitable access to palliative care.

Click here to access the 3rd Edition of Global Atlas of Palliative Care.

IAPCON 2027: Best Abstract Award of ₹11,000 for the Theme “Humanising Hi-Tech Medicine: Where Algorithm Meets Empathy” and Awards Worth ₹4 Lakhs Across Categories

Don’t miss abstract submission deadline: 15 November 2026

The scientific committee of IAPCON 2027 invites abstract submissions for the 34^th International Annual Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027), scheduled to be held from 19 to 21 February 2027 at SOA University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

 A special Best Abstract Award of ₹11,000 will be presented for the best abstract based on the conference theme: “Humanising Hi-Tech Medicine: Where Algorithm Meets Empathy”.

In addition, IAPC has announced awards worth ₹4 lakhs for paper and poster presentations across four categories: Doctors, medical students, nurses and other professionals, including pharmacists, physiotherapists, psychologists, counsellors, social workers, volunteers and allied professionals.

Each category will have three prizes each for paper and poster presentations:

• First Prize: ₹25,000 and a certificate
• Second Prize: ₹15,000 and a certificate
• Third Prize: ₹10,000 and a certificate

The pre-conference workshops will be held on 18 February 2027.

The conference is organised by the Department of Palliative Medicine, IMS & SUM Hospital, Bhubaneswar.

Abstract submission deadline: 15 November 2026.

Researchers, healthcare professionals and students are encouraged to submit their abstracts and be part of this important scientific gathering.

For abstract submission and conference details, visit www.iapcon2027.com

3^rd Jella Nandedkar Memorial Hybrid Symposium on Evidence-Based Palliative Care

Scholarship Deadline Extended to 10 November 2026

The scholarship application deadline for the 3rd Jella Nandedkar Memorial Hybrid Symposium on Evidence-Based Palliative Care has been extended to 10 November 2026. A total of 15 scholarships are available for eligible Indian palliative care practitioners, including full-time palliative care physicians and nurses who have completed a six-week/four-week Certificate Course in Palliative Care or hold a relevant postgraduate qualification such as MD or DNB in Palliative Care. Each scholarship covers one day’s boarding and lodging and waives the registration fee, offering recipients an opportunity to learn and network with peers and national and international leaders in palliative care medicine.

The symposium will be held in hybrid mode on 5 December 2026 at MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre (MNJIO&RCC), Hyderabad. Organised in collaboration with the Indo-American Cancer Association (IACA), MNJIO&RCC and the Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society, Hyderabad, the symposium aims to promote evidence-based practices and strengthen knowledge in palliative care.

Apply for the scholarship by 10 November 2026: Click here to submit your application.

For more information, visit www.iacaweb.org.

Singing for the Stars

Highlights from the October 2026 Event

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), in collaboration with Shankar Mahadevan Academy (SMA Nirvana), continues to bring moments of music, joy and togetherness to the palliative care community through its ‘Singing for the Stars’ musical programme.

The session held on 7 October 2026 featured a wonderful singing performance by Himangi Vishwaroop, who once again generously devoted her time and talent to the initiative. This was her second performance for the programme in the past four months, following her contribution in July. Her melodious voice and engaging presentation made the session a delightful musical experience, offering participants an opportunity to relax, connect and enjoy the uplifting power of music.

The programme highlights how music can offer emotional comfort, mental relaxation and a sense of connection, particularly for individuals living with serious illnesses and those involved in their care. IAPC gratefully acknowledges Himangi Vishwaroop for her generous contribution and Shankar Mahadevan Academy Nirvana for its continued support for this initiative.

When Music Becomes Therapy: A Participant’s Experience

Dr Jagruti Kamdar, who practises as a consultant at Bharatiya Arogyanidhi Hospital, Mumbai, and also provides home-based palliative care to individuals with cancer and non-cancer conditions, shared her experience of the programme, ‘Singing for the Stars’, October Event:

“The Musical Therapy Programme held on 7 October 2026 was an amazing and absolutely “WOW” experience for me! I had heard so much about the programme and had attended it occasionally in the past. However, this particular session brought me immense psychological happiness and felt truly therapeutic.

Having been confined to bed for the past four weeks following surgery and feeling quite low, I experienced tremendous mental peace and relief through this programme. Its positive effects are still lingering, and I feel much better and happier.

I can only imagine how beneficial such an initiative could be for people receiving palliative care who experience suffering in its various dimensions.

I strongly recommend that this programme continue. My heartfelt thanks to Shankar Mahadevan Academy for its selfless service and to IAPC for organising this wonderful activity!”

Dr Jagruti Kamdar

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:

• Associate Professor at St. john’s Medical college hospital, Karnataka
• Palliative Care Physician at Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, Karnataka
• Accountant at Chavakkad Palliative Charitable Trust, Kerala
• Assistant Physiotherapist at Chavakkad Palliative Charitable Trust, Kerala
• Physiotherapist at Chavakkad Palliative Charitable Trust, Kerala
• Nurses at Chavakkad Palliative Charitable Trust, Kerala

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.