Education and Training
31 candidates participated in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in the Physiotherapy – Palliative Care Interface’ on 30th November, 2024
31 very enthusiastic individuals from across the country participated in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in the Physiotherapy – Palliative Care interface’, which was held on Saturday, 30th November, 2024.
The one-day course was successful in enhancing a physiotherapists’ understanding of how they can contribute towards the rendering of holistic palliative care, while also educating the palliative care community on how physiotherapy can augment their patient care and symptom management.
The virtual training program was very interactive as course participants (Physiotherapists, Doctors practising Palliative Medicine, and Nurses practising Palliative Care) had the opportunity to engage with expert faculty and also with each other to have rich discussions.
While we received some excellent constructive feedback to further develop our course, we also received some positive feedback from our course participants as below:
“I'm glad to have enrolled in this course. I gained a lot of beneficial knowledge and hope to use it in practice.”
“Sessions were well planned, time bound and interactive.”
“The topics were good. The speakers were well read and knowledgeable.”
The IAPC thanks our Course Directors (Dr Kalpana Balakrishnan and Dr Sushma Bhatnagar), our Course Chairs (Dr Meenakshi VV and Dr Thendral Edwin), and each of our faculty for all their contribution and support towards this program. We also thank our course participants for their enthusiastic participation during the course.
50 individuals participated in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation course in the Essentials of Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care’ between 1st and 7th December, 2024
50 very keen learners participated in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation course in the Essentials of Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care‘, course held between Sunday, 1st December, and Saturday, 7th December, 2024 (both dates included).
The week-long virtual course empowered participants to understand the psychosocial and spiritual issues that impacted the quality of life of patients with chronic illness and their caregivers. The course also equipped participants with the basic skills required to counsel and communicate with patients / caregivers in such situations.
This cohort was represented by a very mixed and hungry to learn group of Doctors, Nurses, Counsellors, Psychologists and Social Workers.
While we received some excellent constructive feedback to further develop our course, we also received some positive feedback from our course participants as below:
“Thank you so much for these excellent 7 days of learning. Being a medical oncologist, this is much needed skill and I am sure I can help my patients better from now onwards”
“Thank you so much for the wonderful 7 day sessions, plus an additional bonus session. Although I am not from this field, the sessions were so effective and informative that I now have a better understanding of the subject and helpful for my PhD. I appreciate the efforts of all involved who conducted classes”
The IAPC thanks our Course Directors (Dr Seema Rajesh Rao and Dr K V Ganapathy), and each of our faculty for all their contribution and support towards this program. We also thank our course participants for their enthusiastic participation during the course.
‘Farishtey: A death doula training program’ conducted successfully at Nayagarh, Odisha, between 6th and 7th December, 2024
25 curious individuals from various walks of life participated in ‘Farishtey: A death doula training program’ conducted at Sambhav, Nayagarh, Odisha, on Friday, 6th December, 2024, and Saturday, 7th December, 2024.
The two-day, in-person program was offered by the International Death Doula Foundation (IDDF) in collaboration with Amrit Dhara Palliative Care Trust, and Sambhav. The two-day program was led by Dr Abhijit Dam (Founder and President, IDDF) and Mr Avtar Singh Cheema (Founder and Secretary, IDDF),
The course was designed to present participants with interactive and thought provoking sessions aiming to sensitise them to the art of restoring sacredness, and empowering them with the appropriate knowledge and skills to guide and provide meaningful support and comfort to patients and caregivers during the patient’s end of life. Discussions also revolved around introducing participants to the concept of Farishtey, ways of effective caregiving, how to work closely with patients and their families by understanding the last days of life, recognising the indicators of end of life and supporting the dying patient and the caregivers. Participants also had the opportunity to explore the concepts of total pain, bereavement and grief, spirituality and religiosity, the diverse beliefs surrounding death, dying, and the afterlife, etc.
The training ended with certificates being presented to course candidates and a sumptuous lunch.
Over 80 healthcare professionals participate in KMCH’s CME on ‘Cancer Pain and Onco-Palliative Care CME’ conducted on 7th December, 2024
Over 80 healthcare professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Psychologists and Social Workers) from across the country participated in the one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) on ‘Cancer Pain and Onco-Palliative Care CME’ held at Lecture Hall 4, Kovai Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) on Saturday, 7th December, 2024.
The hybrid CME, was the first palliative care CME organised by the Department of Anesthesia and the Pain and Palliative Unit, KMCH, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, in association with the KMCH Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
Sessions began post the ceremonial lighting of the lamp. The very interactive CME was successful in equipping delegates with the latest knowledge and practices in Onco-Palliative Care, to facilitate the provisioning of holistic care for patients and their caregivers. Distinguished experts from across India shared their invaluable insights and rich experiences with an objective to empower delegates gain a deeper understanding of topics and to encourage them to explore critical aspects of Onco-Palliative Care including Pain Management, Pediatric Palliative Care, Psychosocial support, and other holistic approaches to foster a compassionate environment for their patients and caregivers. The session also included a Panel Discussion on ‘Integrating Palliative Care skills training for Undergraduate Students of MBBS’ which led to the emergence of some very creative and innovative ideas towards the effective integration of palliative care into the medical undergraduate curriculum.
The CME concluded with certificates being issued to all participants. Dr Punithavathy D (Associate Professor, Dept. of Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine, KMCH-IHSR) was the Organising Secretary for the CME; while Dr Harsha Singh (Consultant, Pain and Palliative Care Unit, KMCH) was the Joint Organising Secretary for the CME.
14 individuals participated in ‘Chai pe Charcha: Let’s talk about Death and Dying (and living)’ on 13th December, 2024
A mixed bouquet of 14 individuals from across India participated in the December edition of ‘Chai pe Charcha’ conducted on Friday, 13th December, 2024.
This edition of ‘Chai pe Charcha’, led by Dr Asha Deshmukh (Intensivist, Nine Pearls Hospital, Nasik) was well received by the audience represented by Teachers, Doctors, Lawyers and Nurses.
This session began with participants sharing their personal experiences of death and grief. The participants then went on to candidly share details of their coping mechanisms while also holding space for others. The session then delved into the differences in impact caregivers / families experienced when the death of their loved one was due to cancer and non cancer such as chronic conditions, Road Traffic Accidents and Acute conditions like dengue shock syndrome which has a high mortality rate.
The series aims to normalise talking about death among non-medicos and move towards reducing the fear and taboo surrounding death. Additionally, the series also aims to educate the general community that palliative care is for all and not limited to only cancer.
Those interested to join the subsequent sessions are requested to reach out to Dr Asha Deshmukh at betsasha@gmail.com.
Over 60 individuals enjoy a one-hour Diversion program at Mysuru on 14th December, 2024
The team at the ‘Palliative Care Center’, an initiative of Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Mysuru, Karnataka, in collaboration with Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysuru, had organised a one-hour diversion program on Saturday, 14th December, 2024, at the Kuvempu Sabhangana, PKTB and CD Hospital, Mysuru, Karnataka, for the benefit of the community they serve.
The event began with a short welcome address, followed by a 30 minute Carnatic music program presented by Ms Anannya Yashaswini, a trained classical singer who is also pursuing her third year of medicine at the Mysore Medical College. The audience then participated in a 30 minute chanting program envisioned to help center and ground participants.
The 60 participants represented by patients, caregivers and staff from the center enjoyed the program which provided them an hour of escape from reality which was high in energy and filled with positive vibrations. Several patients and caregivers also reported savouring a very spiritual experience after the event.
The event sponsored by the Innerwheel Club of Mysore, concluded with members from the club distributing adult diapers for the patients admitted at the center.
203 individuals participated in ‘IAPCON Assam 2024’, the IAPC Assam State Chapter’s first conference conducted on 14th and 15th December, 2024
The IAPC Assam State Chapter’s first conference ‘IAPCON Assam 2024’ was conducted successfully at Dibrugarh, Assam, on Saturday, 14th December, 2024, and Sunday, 15th December, 2024. The conference was hosted jointly by the IAPC’s Assam State Chapter and The Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Care Trust.
The conference, which was themed ‘Making Palliative Care affordable, acceptable and accessible at doorstep’, was attended by 203 individuals (83 doctors, 96 volunteers, 24 paramedics) from across the region.
Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (President, IAPC) graced the occasion as Chief Guest and also addressed the gathering in which she highlighted the role of IAPC in transforming India’s palliative care landscape by facilitating and enabling the training of professionals across the country to empower them with the necessary skills and knowledge. Dr Bhatnagar also assured the team of continued support, training and education to include professionals from difficult to reach geographical locations.
This was followed by Dr Gayatri Palat’s (Professor, Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Center, Hyderabad) lecture on ‘Paediatric Palliative Care’ in which she highlighted various models of care delivery. Dr KV Ganpathy (CEO, JASCAP; Volunteer Psychologist, TMH Mumbai) then presented on innovative home care programs and learnings from his experiences. Next, Dr Dinesh Goswami (Chairperson, Assam State IAPC), shed some light on the Genesis of palliative care in Assam in 19999 and it’s evolution since. He went on to share that the conference was also volunteer driven under the leadership of Dr Gayatri Gogoi (Organizing President) and Dr Panna Bharali (Organizing Secretary), which is a testament towards the further infusion of community engagement in palliative care. Dr Gogoi then addressed the gathering and provided a glimpse of Pratishruti Cancer and Palliative Trust and its activities which ensures the availability of palliative care services at a patient’s doorstep.
Expert Faculty from across the region presented stellar sessions covering the entire spectrum of palliative and Hospice Care in both cancer and other chronic diseases. The invaluable insights from these expert faculty further enriched the quality of the academic extravaganza. A Souvenir to commemorate this historic event was also published on the occasion.
The Government of WB in collaboration with the IAPC and CNCI, sensitise 23 Administrators in the basics of palliative care and NDPS Act, on 19th December, 2024
23 Administrators (Chief Medical Officer of Health, Medical Superintendent of District Hospitals, Additional Superintendent of District Maternal and Child Health, and Epidemiologists at District level) from each district of West Bengal (WB), were sensitised in the basics of palliative care and the Narcotic Drug and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, on Thursday, 19th December, 2024.
The one-day sensitisation program was conducted at the Swasthya Bhawan, Kolkata, West Bengal. The program was organised by the Directorate of Health Services, Government of West Bengal, in collaboration with the IAPC and the Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata.
The sensitisation program was organised to sensitise the Administrators that their centers were already deemed Recognised Medical Institutions (RMI) and that they therefore didn’t need to apply for licences as such, and to hand hold and guide them on how they can procure and help dispense opioids at their centers. The focus was to therefore highlight their critical role in procuring and dispensing opioids which will help alleviate the suffering and improve the quality of life of their patients.
The sensitisation program included sessions on introduction to the basics of palliative care, ethics in palliative medicine, the current status of palliative care in the State and in the districts, the amendments to the NDPS Act, and guidance and insights into the process of procuring and dispensing opioids. The session concluded with a very rich and interactive discussion segment in which several fundamental queries were addressed and myths around opioids and palliative care were busted.
Sessions were delivered by expert palliative care faculty from the region and also from beyond. Mr Subramnayam Devatha (Assistant Director of Drug Control, Government of West Bengal) also graced the occasion and delivered a session in the program.
AIIMS Jodhpur and Government of Rajasthan, jointly sensitise 30 Medical Officers from Jodhpur’s Urban PHC’s in basics of Palliative care on 20th and 21st December, 2024
30 Medical Officers from 17 Urban Primary Health Centers (PHC) were sensitised in the basics of palliative care, in two cohorts on Friday, 20th December, 2024, and Saturday, 21st December, 2024.
The sensitisation activity was organised at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Jodhpur, Rajasthan, by the Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine, and Pain and Palliative Care Unit of the Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, AIIMS Jodhpur, in collaboration with the District Health Office, Government of Rajasthan.
Expert faculty from AIIMS Jodhpur presented sessions as per the guidelines of the Training Manual on Palliative Care for Medical Officers at Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Sessions included an overview to palliative care and the National Program for Palliative Care, Communication Skills, Assessment and Management of Pain and other symptoms, Management of wounds and ostomies, Oral care, Ethics and End of Life care, Homecare at AIIMS Jodhpur, service delivery frameworks, and the NDPS Act.
36 individuals participated in the Certificate Course in Counselling Skills in Cancer and Palliative Care, offered jointly by KIPCER and KMC Manipal
36 passionate individuals from diverse backgrounds who are eager to make a difference in the lives of those navigating cancer and palliative care, participated in the Certificate Course in Counselling Skills in Cancer and Palliative Care, offered jointly by the Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research (KIPCER) and Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal. This year, the course also received endorsement from the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS).
The third cohort of the training program was offered with both online and offline sessions over 6 months, between July and December 2024. The course which concluded on Friday, 20th December, 2024, was successful in empowering participants to handle difficult conversations with patients and their families, to identify and manage distress and other psychological issues, to navigate end-of-life care concerns, and to provide effective caregiver support and bereavement support.
The interactive course also had insightful discussions and role plays which emphasised the power of compassion, empathy and the need for mental health professionals to reflect on their counselling practices and skills for better care.
3 ELNEC core trainings were conducted by ELNEC India and HPCNAI between 27th November, and 21st December, 2024
Three End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) core trainings have been conducted by ELNEC India and Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association India (HPCNAI), between Wednesday, 27th November, 2024, and Saturday, 21st December, 2024.
Between Wednesday, 27th November, 2024, and Thursday, 28th November, 2024, an ELNEC Oncology was conducted at Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, Delhi. 42 individuals from various departments participated in the interactive training program.
From Friday, 29th November, 2024, to Sunday, 1st December, 2024, training was offered at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda. This program offered in collaboration with the Department of Anaesthesiology, the Institute of Nursing Education and Research (INER), AIIMS Bathinda, was a part of a Capacity Building Training Program for 50 Healthcare Providers (Community Health Officers, ASHA Facilitators, Nurses from Civil Hospital and from AIIMS Bathinda, Nursing faculty from INER). The final day was dedicated to providing participants with real-world exposure to home-based palliative care. Healthcare providers were guided through practical demonstrations and field visits, enabling them to understand the logistics of home care for the terminally ill patient.
Between Friday, 20th December, 2024, and Saturday, 21st December, 2024, ELNEC India in collaboration with Pain Management and Palliative Care at Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner, Rajasthan, was conducted with active participation of 64 individuals. This training aimed to equip Community Health Officers, Medical Officers, Students, and Nursing Officers from various hospital and community settings with essential knowledge and skills in Palliative Care
The sessions were conducted by Brs Arvind Kumar, Jagdish Prajapathi, Ramswaroop Garwa, who are Senior Nursing Officers at AIIMS Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and Sr. Hanife MacGamwell.
Each of the programs witnessed active participation from all attendees, who found the sessions highly informative and impactful. These initiatives not only enhanced professional competencies but also raised awareness about compassionate care practices.
A pre-conference workshop on ‘Communication Skills’ included in ICON’s annual conference
11 healthcare professionals including oncologists, clinical research fellows and NGO’s from across the country participated in the 2-hour workshop on communication skills at the 51st ICON (Indian Co-operative Oncology Network) conference held at Mumbai, on Friday, 29th November, 2024.
The two-hour interactive workshop provided participants with an immersive experience in prognostication and communication skills in palliative care and included evidence-based didactic talks followed by hand-on elements. The workshop included discussions on breaking bad news, handling collusion, eliciting question asking behaviour, ethical issues, caregiver’s role assignment, guidance on how to formally include families in decision-making, and role plays which empowered participants with a concrete understanding of clinical skills, ethics and skilled communication to enable shared decision making.
The experiential workshop, a testament to the increasing awareness and acceptance of palliative care across disciplines was conducted by eminent faculty from IIT Hyderabad and Mumbai, and was led by Dr. Mahati Chittem and included Dr. Pankaj Chowdhary, Dr Shweta Chawak and Ms. Shraddha Namjoshi.
64 professionals from 18 countries participated in ‘Masterclass 2024’ organised jointly by IPM, SPCP, BSMMU and St Christopher’s Hospice
64 individuals from diverse professional backgrounds and from 18 countries participated in ‘Masterclass 2024’ organised jointly by the Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM), Kozhikode, India, the Sanjeevan Palliative Care Project (SPCP), Pondicherry, India, the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Bangladesh, and St Christopher’s Hospice, London, United Kingdom. The in-person masterclass was held at Wayanad, Kerala between Monday, 18th November, 2024, to Friday, 22nd November, 2024.
This training program is a part of the Fellowship in Palliative Care. The biennially held program was designed to further deepen participants’ knowledge and skills in palliative care practice and leadership. The program included group discussions, faculty-led interactive sessions, group activities which aimed to improve the quality and accessibility of palliative care in LMICs. Sessions included topics on Quality improvement, bereavement care, integration of palliative care in traditional medical practices, role of volunteers, integration of research findings and evidence based practices etc.
The five-day program also provided participants and faculty with practical exposure to grassroots initiatives, focusing on leadership, teamwork, and the establishment of supportive platforms and networks in palliative care through the spirit of learning and exchange.
Update from the APM’s lecture series
Report on activities in December 2024
The year ended with five sessions being presented in December, 2024, as part of the ‘Academy of Palliative Medicine’s online Lecture Series 3’. The series has been designed to present a total of 52 lectures focussing on ‘Recent Advances in Palliative Care’, with sessions from the series being delivered by Students of MD and DNB in Palliative Medicine from across the country and moderated by expert Faculty from across the country.
The first session in December 2024, was a superb presentation on ‘Evidence-based guidelines on prevention and management of pressure sores’ presented by Dr Arnavi Udapure and moderated by Dr Shreya Nair. This was followed by a very riveting presentation on ‘Evidence for various pharmacological strategies used in the management of breakthrough cancer pain’ presented by Dr Abhishek Shrivastava and moderated by Dr Anjum Joad. Next, was a comprehensive presentation on ‘Guidelines and evidence for treating hypercalcemia of malignancy in adults’ presented by Dr Suhana Sulfiker and moderated jointly by Dr Ranjit Kumar Sahoo and Dr Sushma Bhatnagar. The second last session for the month was an interesting presentation on ‘Current recommendations, evidence and guidelines on management of chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy’ presented by Dr Lavi Chouhan and moderated by Dr Nipun Lamba. The final session of the year and for the month was a fantastic presentation on ‘Evidence of early integration of palliative care in oncological illnesses based on findings of systematic reviews’ by Dr S Rathipriya and moderated by Dr Meenakshi V V.
The IAPC thanks all our speakers and the moderators for sharing their time and expertise to enrich the knowledge of the palliative care’s community.
Sessions planned for January 2025
We invite you to join us for the lectures scheduled for January, 2025, from the APM’s online Lecture Series 3. Details as follows:
