Education and Training

Apply Now for the International Neuropalliative Care Certificate Course (INPCCC)

Applications are now open for the International Neuropalliative Care Certificate Course (INPCCC) Jointly offered by BHT- Karunashraya Bengaluru, KMC Manipal, MAHE, and the International Neuropalliative Care Society (INPCS). This 12-month certificate course focuses on skill-building in neuropalliative care. The 5^th Cohort of INPCCC will begin in September 2026.

The course offers flexible, self-paced online modules, monthly pre-recorded learning contents and MCQs, followed by monthly faculty-led online discussions on clinically challenging cases and a 10-hour in-person workshop conducted twice a year. The course equips healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills required to provide holistic neuropalliative care.

INPCCC is best suited for professionals with a background in palliative care or neurology, though any physician or nurse caring for patients with serious neurological illnesses can register.

Last Date for Application: 15^th August, 2026 (40 Seats)

Apply here:  https://forms.gle/pvigxGgJrLFDiasX7

Learn more about the course: https://www.inpcs.org/inpcc/

For any queries, write to: inpccc@karunashraya.org

Sparsh Hospice, Hyderabad Jointly with Boston College, USA Invites Applications for Interprofessional Palliative Care Fellowship

Applications are now open for graduates from any stream to join the Interprofessional Palliative Care Fellowship, jointly conducted jointly by Sparsh Hospice, Hyderabad, with Boston College, USA.

Program duration: 1 year (2 Semester).

Last date to register: 10^th August, 2026

For details, please click here.

For registration: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/r/zjtPcq12er

For any other queries write to: counselling@sparshhospice.org

Department of Social Work, NIMHANS, Bengaluru Continues Neuropalliative Care Training Initiative for Medical Officers of Namma Clinics, Karnataka

The Department of Social Work, NIMHANS Bengaluru conducted three additional training programmes on Neuropalliative care for Medical Officers of Namma Clinics in Karanataka. A total of 77 Medical officers were trained during the three programs held on 3^rd, 4^th, and 14^th July, 2026, at the Dr. M. V. Govindaswamy Centre, Bengaluru. With these programs a total of 112 medical officers has completed the training since its launch in June 2026. The programs were led by Dr Priya Treesa Thomas, Head of the Department, Department of Social Work, NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

The inaugural training program in this series was held in June at Arogya Soudha, Bengaluru. It was organised by SANTVANA, the Neuropalliative and Supportive Care, NIMHANS, under the leadership of Dr. Priya Treesa Thomas, in collaboration with Sri Vasanth Rao UA (Dr. Shyama Narang Foundation) and The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Government of Karnataka.

The training programme aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of primary care physicians in providing comprehensive care for individuals living with neurological conditions. The sessions covered a wide range of topics relevant to neuropalliative and supportive care. The participants were introduced to integrated care pathway established through the Karnataka Brain Health Initiative at district hospitals, Karnataka.

The programme provided an interactive platform for medical officers to understand the multidimensional needs of individuals living with neurological conditions and their families. Participants actively engaged in discussions focusing on holistic, person centered, and family-oriented care.

Soul Palliative Care, Chennai organised Care Taker Training Program

SOUL Palliative Care Centre successfully organized a Two-Day Caretaker Training Program on 1^st and 2^nd July, 2026 at its Medavakkam Centre, Chennai, bringing together NGO coordinators from DBSSS, Thozhamai, DBAI, Arinodhaya, and TNDWWT for an enriching learning experience. The programme was designed to strengthen participants’ knowledge and practical skills in delivering compassionate, patient-centred palliative care while promoting quality home-based care within their respective communities.

The programme commenced with an inaugural session attended by members of the Rotary Club of Chennai Sneham and supporting Rotary Clubs. The Chief Guest, Mr. Shankar Duraiswamy (Chairman, Soul Palliative Care) inspired participants by emphasizing the growing need for compassionate caregiving and encouraging them to become ambassadors of quality palliative care in their organizations and communities.

Over the course of two days, participants engaged in expert-led sessions covering the philosophy of palliative care, the role of volunteers, head-to-foot patient care, wound management, SOUL’s home care approach, the doctor’s perspective on volunteer support, lymphedema care, communication with individuals receiving care and their families, and the use of the SPICT assessment tool. Practical demonstrations, interactive discussions, and case-based learning enabled participants to gain hands-on experience and build confidence in providing holistic care to individuals living with serious illnesses.

The training concluded on a highly positive note, with participants expressing that the programme had enhanced both their knowledge and confidence in supporting patients and caregivers. Through this initiative, SOUL Palliative Care Centre reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community-based palliative care by empowering caregivers and volunteers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to improve the quality of life of individuals living with life-limiting illnesses and their families.

West Bengal Chapter of IAPC & IGPME&R Organise Orientation Program in Palliative Care for Nurses

A 12-week Orientation Programme in Palliative Care for Nurses from SSKM Hospital and the Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGME&R) has been launched jointly by the West Bengal Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) in collaboration with the Department of Radiation Oncology, IPGME&R. A total of 25 nurses are participating in the programme, which was launched on 4 July 2026. Classes are being conducted at the IPGME&R campus on 12 Saturdays over a period of three months.

Healing through Shared Grief: caregivers’ meet at Amrit Dhara, Bhubaneswar

Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust, Bhubaneswar organized a caregivers’ meet — not as a formal training program, but as a space for healing, remembrance, and companionship to support those grieving the loss of their loved ones. The programme was organised on the birthday of a 14-year-old girl who had succumbed to cancer.

The concept of this program emerged from the team at Amirt Dhara who has been witnessing the profound grief of the girl’s parents, an elderly couple, whose days have become painfully empty following her demise. Grief had slowly isolated them from the world around them.

The couple arrived carrying their sorrow silently, unsure if they were ready to speak about their loss. At the gathering, they met two other couples who has also lost their young children to cancer. Different stories, different faces, yet the same unbearable emptiness united them all. In the beginning, conversations were hesitant and brief. Eyes spoke more than words. There were long pauses, moist smiles, and the quiet comfort of simply sitting beside someone who truly understood.

As time passed, the barriers slowly softened. One mother spoke about how she still kept her child’s clothes carefully folded. Another father shared how birthdays had become the hardest days to endure. The elderly couple listened silently at first, but gradually, they too began opening the doors of their grief. They spoke about their daughter’s favourite TV shows, her courage during treatment, and the void she left behind.

What began as a meeting slowly transformed into a circle of shared healing. They laughed gently at old memories, wiped each other’s tears, and found comfort in knowing they were no longer alone in their pain. Amidst the sorrow, there emerged a quiet sense of belonging — a realization that grief, when shared, becomes a little lighter to carry.

Reflecting on the program, the organisers shared: “Caregivers’ meet at Amrit Dhara became more than an event.  it became a bridge between broken hearts. In that small space filled with empathy and understanding, these parents discovered that while their children could never be replaced, love and remembrance could continue to connect lives, heal wounds, and help them slowly find strength again.”

The program was coordinated by Dr Mami Parija, Dr Ardra Anuradha, and their team.