Awards and Recognitions
Dr. Praneeth Suvvari Receives Prestigious IDEA-PC Award at ASCO 2025
The Indian Association of Palliative Care is proud to share that Dr. Praneeth Suvvari (Consultant, Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana), has been conferred the International Development and Education Award in Palliative Care (IDEA-PC) for the year 2025 by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The award was presented at the 61st ASCO Annual Meeting held in Chicago, USA, on Friday, 30th May 2025.
This highly competitive and prestigious international recognition is awarded to only five individuals globally each year, and Dr. Suvvari is the only recipient from India for 2025. Acknowledging the honour, Dr. Suvvari shared a heartfelt message of gratitude: ” I am immensely grateful to my mentors, colleagues, and patients who have supported and guided me through this journey. Though this is an individual award, I see it as a testament to the collective effort of an entire community dedicated to improving care. This recognition strengthens my resolve to advocate more strongly for palliative care within oncology and to strive for improved resources, better education, and global collaboration. “
Additionally, Dr Suvvari serves as an Executive Committee Member of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), representing the South Region and as the Scientific Chair of the 33rd International Conference of IAPC (IAPCON 2026).
The IAPC congratulates Dr. Praneeth Suvvari on this well-deserved honour and wishes him continued success in his mission to promote and advance palliative care!
Jus’Onco Palliative Care Trust Launched Home-Based Palliative Care Service in Chennai
The Jus’ Onco Palliative Care Trust has launched a free home-based palliative care service exclusively for cancer patients and their families in Chennai. This initiative, an extension of the Jus’ Onco Affordable Daycare Chemotherapy Center in Kodambakkam, began operations on 14th April, 2025, aiming to address the urgent need for pain management and compassionate support for patients at various stages of illness.
Operating within a 15 km radius of Kodambakkam, the team serves areas including T. Nagar, Kilpauk, Anna Nagar, Perambur, Ambattur, Velachery, and more. The mobile team includes a palliative care physician, a trained nurse, and a dedicated vehicle, visiting patients to deliver pain relief, symptom management, and essential medications at no cost.
Support services from a psychologist, dietician, and physiotherapist are available on call. The service’s vehicle, an Eeco ambulance, has been generously sponsored by Anderson Scans and Diagnostics.
This initiative runs entirely on donations from the public, philanthropists, and corporate supporters, embodying a strong community-driven approach to end-of-life care. Dr. Gajasaraj, a surgeon and palliative care physician on the homecare team, shared, “This is a small beginning for us, and we hope to expand our services in the days to come.”
We extend our best wishes to the Jus’ Onco Palliative Care team as they continue their journey of providing compassionate, home-based care to those in need.
CanSupport Expands its Reach: Signed MoU with the Government of Punjab
CanSupport, a pioneering organisation in Palliative Care in India, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Punjab, marking a significant step in expanding its palliative care services across the state.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Dr. Balbir Singh (Hon’ble Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Gov of Punjab), and Mr. Kumar Rahul (Administrative Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Gov of Punjab). Dr. Ambika Rajvanshi (CEO, CanSupport), Ms. Mohini Daljeet Singh (Member, Managing Committee, CanSupport) and Mr. Kulvin Suri (Director Operations and Member, Board of Directors – Suri Seva Foundation) were present at the occasion, representing CanSupport.
On this occasion the CanSupport team shares: “This partnership reflects our shared commitment towards bringing high-quality palliative care closer to those in need and marks a meaningful stride toward accessible, community-based support for patients and families across Punjab.”
Heartiest congratulations to the entire CanSupport team on this impactful collaboration—may it pave the way for compassionate, quality care for countless individuals across the state!
Neuropalliative and Supportive Care Services (SANTVANA), at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, Honoured with the Rare Star Award
The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) is proud to share that the Neuropalliative and Supportive Care Services initiative, SANTVANA, established at NIMHANS, Bengaluru, has been honoured with the prestigious Rare Star Award by the Organisation for Rare Diseases India (ORDI). The award was presented at a ceremony held in Bengaluru on 25th April 2025, under the Healthcare Industry for Rare category.
This distinguished recognition celebrates the outstanding contributions of the SANTVANA team in delivering holistic, patient-centered care to individuals living with rare and complex neurological conditions. The initiative stands out for its pioneering work in integrating palliative and supportive care into the continuum of care for people with rare and chronic neurological disorders—an area often underserved in the broader healthcare landscape.
Dr. Priya Thomas (Additional Professor, Department of Psychiatric Social Work, NIMHANS, Bengaluru) has been behind the establishment of Neuropalliative and Supportive Care Services (SANTVANA) at NIMHANS in collaboration with Cipla Foundation. Since its inception in December 2021, the clinic has provided holistic care to over 4,000 patients with neuropalliative conditions and their caregivers across the country through outpatient, home-based, and teleconsultation services. The work aims to not only address the psychosocial and palliative care needs of patients with chronic neurological conditions but also to create a sustainable, community-integrated model of care that can be replicated in other regions.
Dr. Priya Thomas, who leads the SANTVANA initiative, graciously accepted the award on behalf of the team. “This honour is a testament to the dedication, collaboration, and compassion of the entire multidisciplinary team, whose unwavering commitment has significantly improved the quality of life for patients and families navigating the challenges of rare neuro conditions.” said Dr Priya Thomas on receiving this award.
This award not only highlights the importance of neuropalliative care but also reinforces the vital role of tailored support services in addressing the unique needs of the rare disease community.
The IAPC extends its heartfelt appreciation to SANTVANA and wishes them success in their tireless efforts!