Announcements / Messages from IAPC

IAPC’s Infographic of the month: ‘Palliative Care in ICUs’

In continuation of our infographic series on “Care Continuum” published in the month of June this year, the IAPC is excited to present the 4th part of this series, an infographic on “Palliative Care in ICUs” this month.

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. Wasimul Hoda (Fellow in Pain Medicine, Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, AIIMS New Delhi) for his valuable support towards this initiative.

The IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025: Results from the Step 1 Online Screening Examination

We are excited to announce the winners from the Step 1 Online Screening Examination for the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025’. The finalists from this examination are as follows:

R Vijay, Puducherry

Meenu Yadav, Rajastan

Bhawna Verma, Delhi

Samim Reja Biswas, Karnataka

Mussaib Mushtaq, Jammu & Kashmir

Ifat Shafi, Jammu & Kashmir

Our warm congratulations to each of them!

These individuals will now proceed to participate in the Step 2, In-person final examination, scheduled to be held on  Monday, 3rd November 2025 at  Shree Krishna Hospital, Bhaikaka University, Karamsad, Anand, Gujarat

Please click here to know more about the ‘IAPC’s Gold Medal for Nurses 2025’. 

Let’s Celebrate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day Together – Don’t Miss the Webinar on 11th October 2025

The Indian Association of Palliative Care warmly invites you to join the third and final webinar in its WHPCD series on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD), 11th October 2025, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Titled “Equity and Innovation: Advancing Universal Access to Palliative Care in India,” this national-level webinar will feature leading voices in policy, clinical care, innovation, and lived experience. We invite all to participate in this flagship event commemorating World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.

IAPC’s WHPCD 2025 Webinar 2: Spotlight on Policy Implementation for Palliative Care

The second webinar in the IAPC’s WHPCD 2025 webinar series, held on 26th September 2025, featured thought-provoking presentations by policy makers, researchers, and field champions. The session focused on the second sub-theme of this year’s WHPCD: “Implement Palliative Care Policies to Improve Access – A focused dialogue on policy implementation, integration, and health systems strengthening.”

The webinar commenced with a welcome address by Dr. Geeta Joshi (President, IAPC). Dr. Alok Mathur (Deputy Director General, MoHF, India) opened the discussion with a presentation titled “Palliative Care Policy and National Program for Palliative Care: An Overview”, outlining how policies are being implemented across India through the National Program for Palliative Care (NPPC) and highlighting strengths and opportunities for expansion. His presentation shed light on upcoming projects and highlighted the availability of government programs aimed at developing palliative care across India.

This was followed by Dr. Gayatri Palat (Professor and Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, MNJ Institute of Oncology and RC, Hyderabad), who presented “From Paper to Practice – Implementing Palliative Care Policy: Telangana Experience.” Her talk inspired participants to explore the “Telangana Model” and generated enthusiastic discussions on its potential replication in other states.

Next, Dr. Bimla Sharma (Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, Shri Gangaram Hospital, New Delhi) shared her insights on “Integration of End-of-Life Care Policy: Experience from a Tertiary Care Centre”. Her presentation sparked engaging discussions on practical strategies for integrating end-of-life care policies in clinical settings.

The final presentation by Dr. Parth Sharma (Community Physician and Public Health Researcher), “Palliative Care Policies in India – Gaps and Opportunities,” was highly commended and sparked a lively discussion among participants.

Mr. Terrymize I, Program Manager – Projects and Advocacy at IAPC, skillfully moderated the webinar, ensuring a smooth and insightful session for all participantsThe webinar received an excellent response, with over 145 participants joining from across India and abroad.

The IAPC’s WHPCD webinar series was inaugurated on 30th August 2025, with the first session focusing on the theme “Empowering People and Compassionate Communities,” highlighting local innovations and community engagement. The inaugural session drew enthusiastic participation from more than 150 attendees worldwide.

For more details on IAPC’s WHPCD 2025 programs, please visit this WHPCD Program Page on IAPC Website.

Advancing Palliative Care in India: Highlights from the WHPCD 2025 Article Series

We invite you to read the series of articles published by the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) in commemoration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day 2025, discussing various aspects of this year’s theme. These articles provide valuable perspectives from leading voices in palliative care globally and in India, offering insights that can guide practice, policy, and advocacy. ‘

We encourage all readers to engage with these thought-provoking articles to better understand the challenges, innovations, and opportunities in advancing universal access to palliative care.

Submit details of your ‘WHPCD celebrations’ in the IAPC’s National Portal

The IAPC invites palliative care institutions to share details from their World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) celebrations with the palliative care community, by way of publication in the IAPC’s website.

Congratulations to all those who celebrated WHPCD with various activities. The publication aims to present the palliative care community with a collection of celebrations from across the country / world, which are not only promising and encouraging, but also helps one to learn and grow from each other’s celebrations.

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

Overwhelming Response to IAPC’s WHPCD Competitions- Congratulations to All Participants!

In commemoration of World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) on 11th October 2025, the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) had announced two special competitions — an Essay Writing Competition and a Photography Competition — to celebrate creativity, compassion, and advocacy for universal access to palliative care.

We are overwhelmed by the enthusiastic participation these initiatives received. A total of 60 essays and 43 photographs were submitted by palliative care professionals, volunteers, caregivers, and individuals receiving palliative care from across the country. This enthusiastic participation itself reflects the participants’ commitment to the theme of universal access to palliative care.

The winners of both competitions will be announced on the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD), 11th October 2025. The top entries will be honoured with prizes and certificates

The IAPC warmly thanks every participant for their thoughtful contributions and for making these competitions such a resounding success. Together, these efforts truly echo the spirit of care, compassion, and dignity.

Celebrating the Creativity of IAPC’s Theme Song Contributors

The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) is delighted to share that the call for entries to pen the official Theme Song of the IAPC received an enthusiastic response from our community. The competition, which closed on 15th September 2025, attracted 16 creative submissions from lyricists, poets, musicians, and palliative care enthusiasts from across the country. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all participants for lending their voices, words, and melodies to this historic initiative.

The winner of the competition will be announced on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD), 11th October 2025. The unveiling of the official IAPC Theme Song on this special occasion will mark a memorable milestone in the Association’s journey, serving as a unifying and inspiring anthem for our community.

Stay tuned for the announcement, and join us in celebrating this creative legacy for the IAPC and for palliative care in India.

IAPCON 2026 Presents “SHARK TANK – HOSPICE EDITION” & The IAPCON ANNUAL DEBATE – where Ideas Collide and The Best Arguments Win!

The Organising team of the 33rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2026) has announced exciting and unique competitions for delegates to participate in and win!

IAPCON 2026 will present to you “SHARK TANK- HOSPICE EDITION”, for the  first time in history!

Do you have a dream to start a Hospice? Submit your idea/proposal now!

Submit your entry now with a Hospice Infrastructure Plan, Staff Recruitment & Services, Funding Strategy, and Innovative Plan that Makes your Hospice a Unique one.

If you secure a position in the top 3, you will get the unique opportunity to present your proposal before our Panel of “Sharks”-Renowned Leaders in Hospice Care.

Attractive Prizes await you along with Mentorship & Expert Guidance from the “Sharks”!

For details, please visit the IAPCON 2026 website.

Participate in IAPCON DEBATE! Where ideas collide and best arguments WIN!

Are you ready to showcase your WIT, ELOQUENCE AND CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS? The stage is set for Annual Debate IAPCON 2026.

The organisers of IAPCON 2026 warmly invite you to participate in the exciting Debate competition where ideas collide and the best arguments WIN!

The topics are:

Topic 1 – DNR should be default in advance cancer patients admitted in ICU – Agree or Disagree?

Topic 2 – Should palliative care begin only when oncologists decide, or from the start of treatment?

Topic 3 – Community participation is more important than technology in the growth of palliative care – Yes or No?

In case of any query, please contact Ms. Shubha Pai. Email: paishubha02@gmail.com

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

The deadline for abstract submissions for the conference is 30th December 2025. The Scientific Committee encourages all delegates to submit their abstracts and get a chance to win attractive prizes offered by the Indian Association of Palliative Care for Paper and Poster Presentations.

The Scientific Committee of the 33rd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative (IAPCON 2026) has also announced 16 engaging pre-conference workshop topics. The organisers warmly invite you to register for these workshops, which will be held on Thursday, 12th February 2026, in Hyderabad. For registration and detailed information, please visit the conference website.

Abstract Submissions Now Open for the First WBIAPCON!

Abstract submission and Registrations are now open for the Inaugural Conference of the West Bengal State Chapter (WBIAPCON 2025) of the Indian Association of Palliative care.  The conference will be held on 23rd November, 2025 at Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata.  Pre-conference workshops will be held on 22nd November, 2025.

Abstract Submission:

Last date for abstract submission: 15th November 2025.

 Acceptance will be communicated by 17th Nov 2025.

 Send the abstracts to wbiapcon@gmail.com with subject as “abstract for wbiapcon”.

Please click here for guidelines for abstract submission

The conference will also feature exciting competitions! Talented participants are invited to showcase their skills in the following categories:

  • Art: Sketch/Painting
  • Photography
  • Poetry/Story/Recitation
  • Role Play/Skit

Please note: Performing arts such as music, song, or dance will not be accepted.

For detailed guidelines and submission information, please visit, the Talent Guidelines Pages on Conference Website.

This landmark academic event marks an important milestone for the palliative care movement in West Bengal and aims to bring together clinicians, nurses, researchers, caregivers, and volunteers to exchange knowledge, build capacity, and strengthen collaborative efforts. The conference will provide a platform for dialogue on best practices, innovations, and challenges in palliative care, while the pre-conference workshops will offer participants hands-on learning experiences across key areas of practice.

For more details and registration visit the conference website.

EAPC 2026 Researcher Awards — Call for Applications Open!

The European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) has opened applications for the 2026 Researcher Awards, which will be presented at the upcoming 20th World Congress, 14th to 16th May 2026, Prague Czech Republic. The awards are given under the categories of Early Researcher Award, Post Doctoral Award, and Clinical Impact Award. By celebrating innovative research and clinical achievements, the awards highlight excellence, raise visibility, and encourage continued progress in palliative care as an essential part of healthcare systems. Recipients gain recognition on an international stage, with opportunities for collaboration and career development, while their work serves as an inspiration to colleagues and the wider community. Applications are invited from those who have demonstrated both impactful achievements and potential for future leadership in the field.

The application process for the 2026 EAPC Researcher awards will close on 18th January 2026, 23:45 CET

For more details, please click here.

WHO launches new global guideline on access to controlled medicines

The World Health Organization (WHO) has published the full edition of its Guideline on Balanced National Controlled Medicines Policies, the first comprehensive global framework to ensure access to controlled medicines for medical and scientific use while minimizing risks of misuse and diversion.

Controlled medicines such as opioids, benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and amphetamines are essential for pain relief, surgery, epilepsy, palliative care, and mental health treatment. Yet millions worldwide still lack access. WHO notes that up to 98% of patients in low-income countries have no adequate pain relief, while weak regulation in other regions has contributed to opioid epidemics.

The guideline published on 19 September 2025 provides evidence-based recommendations across seven domains, including policy development, fair pricing, supply chain management, prescribing practices, legal reforms, and education. It calls for balanced national approaches that guarantee uninterrupted, affordable access while preventing harmful non-medical use.

To read the guideline, please click here.

Tune in at 2:50 p.m. on 15th October, 2025, for the musical event ‘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 15th October, 2025, for the musical event ‘Singing for the Stars’.

The evening of harmonies will be presented by Ms Ratnika Shrivastava.  

Don’t forget to join us at 2:50 p.m. on 15th October, 2025.

‘Singing for the Stars’: Update from the September 2025 event

Shankar Mahadevan Academy Nirvana (SMA Nirvana), in collaboration with IAPC, organized the September musical evening, “Singing for the Stars,” held from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, 30th September 2025.

IAPC congratulates the artist, Ms. Nimisha K. (Vocalist, Performing Artist, Music Educator, Shankar Mahadevan Academy), for delivering a truly marvellous evening. Healthcare professionals, carers, and volunteers also joined the event, adding warmth and smiles for the real stars—individuals receiving palliative care—during their most challenging journeys.

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.