Education and Training

Last date to apply for the IAPC’s ‘Certificate Course in Essentials of Palliative Care’ extended to 5th January, 2023

The IAPC has extended the last date to apply for the 6th online batch of the IAPC’s most sought after and popular course, the Certificate Course in Essentials of Palliative Care (CCEPC). The CCEPC is a basic course in palliative care for doctors and nurses which aims to inculcate the principles of palliative care in every day practice for doctors and nurses to improve patient care through proper communication and effective management of difficult symptoms.

The course will be delivered in two parts: A mandatory theory ‘Part A’ component and a practical hands-on ‘Part B’ component (recommended but optional).

These theory classes will be held as half day sessions over 3 weekends (Saturdays: 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Sundays: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.). The dates for the January 2023 batch: 7th, 8th, 21st, 22nd, 28th and 29th of January, 2023.

Select Clinical sessions will be held separately for Doctors (MBBS, BDS) and Nurses (BSc Nursing, GNM).

The last date to submit applications is Thursday, 5th January, 2023.

Please click here for further details and to register for the course.

34 candidates successfully participate in the IAPC’s course on ‘Managing Psychosocial issues of patients with chronic illnesses in Palliative Care settings’

34 very enthusiastic candidates from across the country are now empowered with the necessary knowledge and skills to manage the psychosocial issues of patients with chronic illnesses in Palliative Care settings, as a result of their participation in the IAPC’s course on ‘Managing Psychosocial issues of patients with chronic illnesses in Palliative Care settings’.

The virtual course was delivered over a week in December (3 hours over weekends; 2 hours over weekdays) between Sunday, 4th December, 2022, and Saturday, 10th December, 2022 (both dates included).

Doctors, Nurses, Counsellors and Social Workers participated in the very interactive program.

We thank all our faculty for sharing their time and expertise with us, and also Dr Seema Rao and Dr Ganpathy KV, for their support in designing and conducting the course.

Excerpts from the course as below:

“The explanations were simple, understanding was easy, most difficult to teach online topics were taken wonderfully.”
“Topics were more of discussion than just a one way lecture. The Faculty were so knowledgeable yet friendly. Time frame was good enough to be adjustable by working professionals.”

Recordings from the WHO Technical Briefing: Taking Action for Quality Palliative Care Services, is now available

The WHO had conducted a one hour webinar on Thursday, 24th November, 2022, to provide a technical briefing which focused on two new WHO resources on quality and palliative care.

The webinar examined the topic of palliative care from a quality perspective while also exploring the interconnections and inviting colleagues to begin to consider this important subject matter.

The audience were privy to understanding the key linkages between quality and palliative care; articulating the purpose, scope and key messages contained within the two new WHO resources closely linked to quality and palliative care; access a range of important WHO technical resources on the topics of quality and palliative care; and Outline key actions that can be taken to enhance the quality of palliative care services.

 Please click here to access the recording.

ELNEC India trains 35 clinicians at AIIMS, Bhopal, between 5th and 7th December, 2022

The End-of-life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) are extremely delighted to share that they were able to finally conduct a 3 day training program at AIIMS Bhopal, between Monday, 5th December, 2022, and Wednesday, 7th December, 2022. The program was rescheduled multiple times over the past 3 years due to Covid and was conducted this time primarily due to the perseverance and hard work of Dr Anuj Jain (Associate Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, AIIMS, Bhopal).

The 3 day in-person training program was delivered to a select group of 35 nurses, two residents and Dr. Anuj himself. The candidates participated actively and were very interested and attentive throughout the training period.

The program was delivered by ELNEC’s expert Faculty, Sr. Hanife MacGamwell (Nursing Education Coordinator, IAPC and ELNEC India), Sr. Sangeetha N (Nursing Tutor, Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya) and Br. Ramswaroop Garwa (Nursing Officer, AIIMS Jodhpur).

The interactive sessions aimed to educate participants with the principles and practices of palliative care and to empower them to provide quality care for patients with advanced illness at their end of life. The program included concepts of End of Life Nursing Care, its vital role in interdisciplinary teams, ways of improving End of Life Care for patients across settings and role plays on nurse-patient therapeutic communication, breaking bad news, assessment of pain control, wound dressing, symptom management etc.

On behalf of ELNEC India, Sr Hanife shares, “We are grateful to Dr. Anuj’s commitment to palliative care and for all his efforts, flexibility and hospitality. With support from Dr Ajay Singh (Executive Director, AIIMS, Bhopal), Dr. Vaishali Waindeskar (HoD, Anesthesiology, AIIMS, Bhopal) and a good team of dedicated nurses and ofcourse with the commitment of Dr. Anuj, I am certain that this department will continue to grow and provide benefit to innumerable patients and their families, and to the larger community in and around Bhopal.”

76 religious leaders sensitised in palliative care on 6th December, 2022, during the annual meet of the BRBC, CRI and CDPI

Dr Pankaj Chowdhary (Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Shanti Nursing Home; Palliative Care Physician) was invited to sensitise 76 religious leaders in palliative care during the annual meeting of the Bengal Regional Bishops’ Council (BRBC), the Catholic Religious of India (CRI), and the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India (CDPI) of the West Bengal-Sikkim Region, held at the Loyola Pastoral Centre, Matigara, Siliguri. Though the annual meeting was held between Monday, 5th December, 2022, and Wednesday, 7th December, 2022, the palliative care sensitisation activity was conducted on Tuesday, 6th December, 2022.

The audience of 76 included 7 regional Bishops, Bishop Alwyn D’Silva (Auxiliary Bishop of Bombay archdiocese), Rt. Rev. Alwyn D’Silva, Sr. Colette SJC, the CBCI chairperson for ecology, and the major superiors and representatives of different religious congregations and the dioceses. Bishop Vincent Aind (Bishop of Bagdogra), Archbishop Thomas D’Souza and Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, the Nuncio were the other important dignatories present at the session.

On the evening of Tuesday, 6th December, 2022, there was a lively group discussion in which Dr. Pankaj Chowdhary was invited to share his views on the ‘Culture of Compassion’. During this session, Dr Chowdhary highlighted how palliative care is the ‘need of the hour’ considering today’s familial and societal structure. Post Dr Chowdhary’s session, a keen interest was shown towards training volunteers in providing palliative care and thereafter leveraging these trained volunteers to spread awareness about palliation and it’s need in the community.

It is understood that in Sikkim, it is under these leaders under whom a lot of ‘medical care’ including services in very remote, unapproachable areas are being provided for long. The large and growing number of senior citizens and the prevalence of cancers in terminal stages indicate the dire need for ‘palliative care’ services in the region of West Bengal and Sikkim.

BHT – KIPCER and KMC, Manipal, jointly train 15 psychologists over 6 months in counselling skills

Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education & Research (BHT – KIPCER), Bengaluru, and Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, jointly trained 15 psychologists through their 6-month blended learning program ‘Certificate Course in Counselling Skills in Cancer and Palliative Care (CCPC)’ between July and December 2022.

The valedictory ceremony for these 15 enthusiastic course participants was held on Friday, 16th December, 2022, at Karunashraya, Bengaluru. Dr. Sharath Kumar Rao (Dean & Professor, KMC Manipal), Dr. Santhosh K Chaturvedi (Former Dean & Senior Professor of Psychiatry, NIMHANS, Bengaluru) and Dr Naveen Salins (Professor & Head of the Department, Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, KMC Manipal) graced the occasion and awarded certificates to those participants who successfully completed the program.

The organising team shares that it was a wonderful experience to teach, train and empower the 15 psychologists working in the field of cancer & palliative care.

Below is the excerpt as shared by a couple of course participants:

“As a beginner in the field of psycho-oncology, I found myself lost before joining this course. Now I have a better understanding not only of the field but also of my patients - their feelings, distress and day to day challenges.” Swati Baid, Psychosocial Counsellor, PALCARE, Mumbai
"This course has been good learning for me. After working in the area of cancer counselling for a few years, I realized this course has helped me to hone my existing skills plus learn many more skills that I wasn't aware of or didn't know were available. I feel better equipped to handle cancer care." Vandana Mahajan, Palliative Care Counsellor, Delhi

ELNEC India conducts a 3-day training program for 53 clinicians at the Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, between 24th and 26th November, 2022

The End-of-life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) conducted a 3-day in-person ELNEC program at the Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, between Thursday, 24th November, 2022, and Saturday 26th November, 2022.   

The interactive sessions were attended by 53 participants who included interested and willing students from Viswass College of Nursing, Nursing instructors, District nurses, a District doctor, physical therapist, and home care nurses.

The program was delivered by ELNEC’s expert Faculty, Sr. Hanife MacGamwell (Nursing Education Coordinator, IAPC and ELNEC India), Sr Nileema Shingade (Senior Nursing Officer, Dr B.R.A, IRCH, AIIMS, New Delhi), Sr. Sangeetha N (Nursing Tutor, Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya) and Sr. Cassandra (Palliative Care Nurse).

The ELNEC India team expresses its gratitude to Dr Srinagesh Simha (Medical Director, Karunashraya) and Dr. Seema Rao (Associate Director, Education & Research, Karunashraya) for initiating this training and organizing it along with Sr. Sangeetha, Drs Satish and Vjjaval (Medical Officers, Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre), Dr. Lipika Patra (Consultant, Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre) and Ms Jyana (Manager, Operations, Bagchi-Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre) and the entire team for meticulously attending to each and every detail towards seamlessly  implementing the training program. The team also wishes to place on record the humbleness and support received from Dr. Sumita Mohanty (Professor and HoD, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Palliative Care).

Sr Hanife shared, “Though the Team in Bhubaneswar may be a small team for now but they are truly awesome. We are looking forward to the next batch of trainings to train more health care providers in palliative care and also learn more from this very dedicated team in Bhubaneswar”.

The three day training program concluded with certificates being distributed to the participants.

BMCHRC, Jaipur, presented Nukkad Natak, ‘Dard se naa haar, Sambhav hai Upchaar’ on 27th November, 2022

The team from the Department of Pain and Palliative Care, Bhagwan Mahaveer Cancer Hospital and Research Center (BMCHRC), Jaipur, got creative and designed and presented a Nukkad Natak, ‘Dard se naa haar, Sambhav hai Upchaar’ on Sunday, 27th November, 2022. The creative team included Doctors, Nurses, a psychologist, a social worker and a technician.

The natak was designed to create awareness about palliative care for the general public of Jaipur. Over 500 people from varied age groups and backgrounds from the community were sensitised about palliative care via this innovative advocacy activity.

The street play was performed in 5 different, busy and popular parts of Jaipur (Jal Mahal, Hawa Mahal, World Trade Park, Amber Fort and Albert Hall Mahal) to create awareness about palliative care.

Please click here to catch glimpses from the fun filled, yet, a very important activity.

Dr Anjum Khan (Director, Anesthesia; HoD, Department of Pain and Palliative Care, BMCHRC) shares, “We would have never been able to pull this off without support from Manngadhant, and the ever supportive management of BMCHRC.. I thank all those involved in designing and implementing this fun activity which we all so thoroughly enjoyed presenting to the people of Jaipur”.

Update from IAPC Academy

Report on activities in December

The December chills did not deter the Palliative Care fraternity to participate in the 4 lectures from the ‘IAPC Academy’s Online Lecture Series 6’ delivered in December. Series 6 will deliver a total of 35 lectures, which will be delivered by students of MD and DNB in Palliative Medicine from across the country and moderated by a Faculty from their respective center.

Dr Varun Yadav’s comprehensive lecture on ‘Common metabolic disorders in palliative care and their management’ moderated by Dr Ravi Umrania was the first lecture delivered in December. This was followed with a very thought provoking lecture on ‘Palliative sedation versus euthanasia: an ethical assessment’ presented by Dr Anshita Sharma and moderated by Dr Shreya Nair. The third lecture for the month was a very interesting presentation on ‘Inotropic therapy and non-invasive ventilation in palliative care: An ethical dilemma?’ presented by Dr Amelia Michael and moderated by Dr Raghavendra Ramanjulu. The December series concluded with a fantastic presentation on ‘Prognostic Tools in Patients with Advanced Cancer’ delivered by Dr Gayatri S and moderated by Dr Krithika Rao.

We thank our speakers and the moderators for sharing their time and expertise to enrich the knowledge of the palliative care’s community.

Please click here to access the recordings of lectures conducted.

Sessions planned for January

We invite you to join us for the lectures scheduled for January from Series 6. Details below: