Awards and Recognitions
Dr Naveen Salins bestowed with the ‘Award for Outstanding Alumni 2024’ of Lancaster University, UK
We are excited to share that Dr Naveen Salins (Associate Dean (Research); Professor & Head, Dept. of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College Manipal), has been bestowed with the ‘Award for Outstanding Alumni 2024’ of Lancaster University, United Kingdom (UK). Dr Salins has been invited to attend Lancaster University’s convocation in December 2024, to receive this esteemed award. During the convocation, he will partake in the ceremonial march and also deliver a speech in acknowledgement of this honour.
The prestigious award has been bestowed by Prof. Andy Schofield (Vice-Chancellor, Lancaster University; Chair, Lancaster University’s Degrees Committee) in recognition of Dr Salin’s stellar accomplishments and in acknowledgement of his exceptional international and national reputation within his field. The Alumni Awards Committee share with certainty that Dr Salins’ contributions will serve as an inspiration to current students and their parents at Lancaster University.
When we reached out Dr Salins, he expressed his gratitude to the palliative care community in India and internationally for all the support he received.
Congratulations Dr Salins! We wish you greater laurels.
Dr Mami Parija conferred with the ‘Devi Award’ by the New Indian Express on 21st September, 2024
We are elated to share that Dr Mami Parija (Founder, Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust) is the recipient of the ‘Devi Award’ presented by the New Indian Express. Dr Parija received this award at an event held at Mayfair Convention, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Saturday, 21st September, 2024.
The ‘Devi Award’ recognises and celebrates women leaders who are working in the community and who are making a positive difference to those living in the region. Dr Parija was presented this award in recognition of her exceptional contribution to palliative care by providing holistic care to those suffering with advanced cancer and other serious life limiting illnesses.
A very humble Dr Parija shares, “This award belongs to my entire team who are working very hard to serve those in rural areas who are in need of palliative care services. This recognition only motivates us to work harder and reach more off those suffering from serious health related illnesses”.
Congratulations, Dr Mami Parija! We wish you continued success.
KeSVF awarded the ‘Don Norman Design Award’ for 2024
It is with pleasure we share that the Karuna evam Shanti Vahini Foundation (KeSVF) has been awarded the ‘Don Norman Design Award’ for 2024, for it’s ‘Palliative Care for Remote Tribal Communities Project in India’.
The ‘Don Norman Design Award’ (DNDA) is a non-profit organization that promotes and supports the practice and education of humanity-centered design. Those projects which address at least one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, follow the spirit of humanity-centered design, and provide evidence of great potential to make a substantial difference to the lives of the community for which it is intended, will be presented with this highest form of excellence award. The awardees will be honoured with a trophy and a monetary prize at the DNDA 2024 Summit, held in November 2024 in San Diego, USA.
The project ‘Palliative Care for Remote Tribal Communities Project in India’ aims to provide Palliative Care services for chronically ill patients and their family members from remote tribal (Bhil) communities in a remote part of Maharashtra who would otherwise have limited access to healthcare. The initiative also demonstrates that community-led service delivery for chronically ill patients who face barriers in accessing healthcare can provide both quality care and long-term sustainability.
Ms Sonalini Mirchandani (Director, KeSVF) shares, “We are humbled to receive this recognition after competing with excellent projects from 26 countries. The credit for this goes to our field team of adivasi nurses and social workers who are doing an exemplary job in formidable terrains”.
Congratulations Team KeSVF! We wish you the best in your endeavours!
Christian Medical College (Vellore), Malabar Cancer Center (Thalassery), Rajagiri Cancer Center (Aluva) and the St Johns Oncology Centre (Bengaluru), receive ESMO Accreditation
We are proud to share that the Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, Tamil Nadu; Malabar Cancer Center (MCC), Thalassery, Kerala; Rajagiri Cancer Center, Aluva, Kerala; and St Johns Oncology Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka; have been recognised as ESMO (European Society for Medical Oncology) Accredited Designated Centre of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care in 2024.
Palliative Care Services at Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, is being led by Dr Jenifer Jeba (Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, CMC, Vellore). On the occasion she shares, “It is a moment of joy and affirmation for the Department of Palliative Medicine, CMC, Vellore, to be recognised as an ESMO center in 2024. Our palliative care team is committed to providing compassionate palliative care to all cancer patients with palliative care needs and aspire towards excellence in care, education and research”.
Palliative Care Services at Malabar Cancer Center, Thalassery, Kerala, is being led by Dr Biji M S (Assistant Professor and Head In charge, Department of Cancer Palliative Medicine, MCC, Thalassery). On the occasion she shares, “We are happy and proud to be recognised by ESMO as a cancer centre providing integrated oncology and palliative care service. This accreditation fully reflects our dedication and holistic approach practices by our multidisciplinary team in rendering quality patient care”.
Palliative Care Services at Rajagiri Cancer Center, Aluva, Kerala, is being led by Dr Biju Raghavan (Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva), who shares, “This prestigious acknowledgment reflects the dedication, expertise, and compassionate care our team provides. We assure everyone that we will continue to uphold our commitment to excellence in cancer care and making a difference in the lives of our patients.”
Palliative Care Services at St Johns Oncology Centre, Bengaluru, Karnataka, is being led by Dr Nandini Vallath (Professor and Head, Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, St Johns Oncology Centre, Bengaluru). On the occasion Dr Vallath shares, “ESMO accreditation has been a recognition of our ongoing collaborative work with oncology patients of our institution. The detailed application process of ESMO triggered the enthusiasm of oncology departments and the administration and allowed closer engagement with the palliative care team and its activities. We are now fine-tuning the SOPs our integration to ensure that no patient who requires palliative care is missed out”.
The ESMO Designated Centers Accreditation program was initiated in 2003 to recognise cancer centres providing highly integrated oncology and palliative care services with the goal of improving research, education and clinical practice by setting standards for service development. Once accredited, they are valid for a period of three years following which centres may reapply if interested. Please click here to view the list of centers accredited from India till date.
Hearty congratulations to the newly accredited organisations! We wish you the best in your future endeavours.
Sparsh Hospice celebrates 13 years of service on 11th September, 2024
We are delighted to share that Sparsh Hospice, Hyderabad, Telangana, completed 13 years of palliative care service provision on Wednesday, 11th September, 2024. The hospice is an initiative of the Rotary Club of Banjara Hills Charitable Trust.
The project arose from the lack of awareness about palliative care for end-of-life patients and the urgent need to alleviate the pain and suffering of the terminally ill. The founders of the hospice were inspired to initiate a project which transformed personal pain to a greater benefit for the society. Since its inception, the center has rendered compassionate care to over 10,000 patients suffering with advanced cancer, and other serious life limiting illness and their caregivers.
On surpassing this milestone, the team shares, “What began as just a vision has now grown into a beacon of compassion, supporting patients and their families in the most challenging times. Over the years, Sparsh Hospice has become a trusted name in the palliative care sector, and we are incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of our donors (SBI Foundation, Phoenix Foundation and many others), Trustees, staff, volunteers, and the entire community, whose efforts have made this journey possible.”
The team has organised a formal event on Monday, 14th October, 2024, to commemorate the anniversary on World Hospice and Palliative Care Day.
Congratulations Team Sparsh! We wish you surpass many such milestones.
Ganga Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore, begins a Palliative care OPD from 12th September, 2024
We are pleased to share that Ganga Medical Center and Hospital, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, began Palliative Care Out Patient Department (OPD) from Thursday, 12th September, 2024.
Palliative care services were non-existent at the center until the initiation of the new OPD. This new OPD will function every Thursday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and cater to adult patients with Oncological palliative care needs. Services at the OPD are provided by a team of 2 doctors and 2 nurses trained in palliative care.
On the occasion, the team shares, “This new service allows us to adopt a holistic approach in caring for patients with terminal illnesses by providing effective symptom management, psychological support and related supportive care.”
To avail services at the center, please reach out to the team at: +91 8390737583.
Congratulations, Team Ganga Medical Center and Hospital! We wish you the best in this endeavour.
Bangalore Baptist Hospital inaugurated a 50 bedded hospice at Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural District, on 24th September, 2024
It is heartwarming to share that the Bangalore Baptist Hospital (BBH), Bengaluru, Karnataka, inaugurated their 50 bedded hospice at Devanahalli, Bengaluru Rural District, Karnataka, on Tuesday, 24th September, 2024.
The hospice was inaugurated by Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao (Hon. Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Karnataka), while Shri KH Muniyappa (Hon. Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Government of Karnataka; District Minister Incharge, Bangalore district; MLA, Devanahalli constituency) launched the extension of palliative home care services to the districts of Kolar, Tumkuru and Ramanagara.
The lack of palliative care service availability and accessibility for patients with complex palliative care needs in rural Bengaluru prompted the team to design a hospice. The Bangalore Baptist Hospital will continue to provide palliative care services via their existing Out Patient, In patient and Home Care services.
Services at the new hospice will be provided by a team of Palliative care specialists, nurses, counsellors, social workers and health care assistants. Both child and adult patients with terminal cancer and non-cancer can avail services at the hospice.
On this occasion, Dr Spurgeon (Director (CEO), BBH) shares, “The BBH Hospice is the first hospice of its kind offering palliative care at subsidised rates in the districts of Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumkuru and Ramanagara. Our palliative care team caters to the needs of patients from Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumkuru and Ramanagara districts, through our palliative care homecare and hospice services. We extend our gratitude to Kurian Foundation for their support towards this initiative”.
Those in need of such services can reach out the team at +91 8217694169.
Congratulations Team Bangalore Baptist Hospital! We wish you the best.
Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust inaugurates their second center at Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, on 28th September, 2024
We are thrilled to share that the Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust (ADPCT), inaugurated their second unit at Kalinga Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, on Saturday, 28th September, 2024.
The steady rise in demand for palliative care services in the region, prompted ADPCT to expand the scale and scope of their services. The newly inaugurated center will now cater to the palliative care needs of pediatric cancer patients and their caregivers in addition to rendering care to adult cancer patients in the region. The new center will also focus on providing psychosocial support and empowerment training for the caregivers of patients who are under their care. Respite care services for female care givers will also be provided at the center.
This new center will provide free palliative care services via Out Patient (OP), Day Care, and Home care services.
The new unit will be managed by a team of dedicated doctors, nurses, counsellors, and a pharmacist. A set of committed volunteers will also support the team.
Dr Mami Parija (Founder, ADPCT, Bhubaneswar) shares, “The vision of ADPCT has always been to alleviate the suffering of patients with advanced cancer. This expansion only reiterates our commitment to patient care as per the needs of our patients. We are thankful to all our stakeholders including the community for their support and trust in us”.
Please reach out to the team at +91 9124586333 to avail these services.
Congratulations Team Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust! We wish you continued success.