Education and Training
Residents of DNB Medical Oncology from across the country are getting oriented in the basics of palliative medicine from April 2023
Earlier this year, Dr Ranga Rao (Senior Consultant, Medical Oncology, and Chairman, Paras Hospital, Gurgaon; Convenor, DNB Medical Oncology curriculum) approached Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (Chief, Dr B.R.A IRCH, AIIMS, New Delhi; President, IAPC) with a proposal requesting to design and deliver a series of lectures in palliative medicine to sensitise residents of DNB in Medical Oncology, from across the country, with the basic principles and concepts of palliative medicine.
This activity was then planned jointly by the National Board of Education in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and the Academy of Palliative Medicine, a recently instituted body of the IAPC.
A series of 11 lectures were designed to be delivered virtually, every Wednesday, between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.. The first session of the series was presented on Wednesday, 26th April, 2023, with the series scheduled to conclude on Wednesday, 5th July, 2023. The lectures will cover the basic facets of Palliative medicine such as the concept of palliative care, symptom management, end of life care, pain management, integration of palliative care in ICUs, metrics and measures of quality of life etc.
Lectures in this series will be presented by expert faculty in palliative medicine from all over the country. With these lectures, we hope to sensitise and empower the residents of DNB medical oncology with the basics of palliative medicine.
We thank the NBEMS for this initiative which will definitely improve the provisioning of holistic cancer care in India. We also extend our gratitude to our dear Faculty for sharing their time and expertise towards enriching the knowledge of the participants.
KGMU, Lucknow, sensitises 50 Nurses and 100 Paramedical students in the basics of Palliative Care on 27th April, 2023
The Pain Medicine Unit, Department of Anesthesiology, in collaboration with the Faculty of Paramedical Sciences and Faculty of Nursing, King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, organised a one day workshop in the basics of palliative care for 50 nursing and 100 paramedical students on Thursday, 27th April, 2023, at the Kalam Center, KGMU.
Lt. Gen. (Dr) Bipin Puri (Vice Chancellor, KGMU, Lucknow) graced the occasion as Chief Guest, while Dr Sanjay Dhiraj (Professor, Anesthesiology, SGPGI; CMS and Pain and palliative Unit incharge) was the Guest Speaker for the day. Dr Kriti Shrivastava (Incharge, Cancer Registry Unit, KGMU) joined the event as an ‘Invited Guest’. Dr Anil Nischal (Dean Paramedical Sciences, KGMU), Dr Punita Manik (Dean Incharge, Faculty of Nursing, KGMU), and Dr GP Singh (HoD, Anesthesiology) also participated in the inauguration among other dignitaries.
The rich and interactive workshop began with Dr Dhiraj’s session on ‘Introduction of Palliative care and why it is necessary for health care professionals’. This was followed by sessions on Symptom Management, Nursing care, Communication skills, End of Life Care, and with a visit to the pain ward. The workshop also included sharing of videos, and conducting role plays on topics such as breaking bad news, care of a bedridden patient etc.
Dr Sarita Singh (Professor, Department of Anesthesia, KGMU; IAPCs North Zone CC Member) the coordinator for the workshop, also mentioned that this sensitisation activity was the first step in KGMU’s plan towards creating teams to offer home care services for their patients around the hospital.
A ‘Palliative Medicine Update 2023’ was presented during the Max Cancer Congress 2023, at New Delhi, on 29th April, 2023
The Max Institute of Cancer Care (MICC) organised a one day ‘Max Cancer Congress 2023’ on Saturday, 29th April, 2023 at the Taj Palace, New Delhi.
Though the conference primarily focussed on the various aspects of cancer care, the congress also included a four-hour session on palliative medicine to target the 1500 captive audience represented by oncologists and palliative care professionals. The palliative care segment was organised by the Max Palliative care division.
The sessions included 2 panel discussions; one on legal stance of DNI / DNAR in India: An insight into the Supreme Court Judgement on Advance Medical Directive / Passive Euthanasia, and its implementation, and the other on practices for critically ill patients in the last phase of their life in hospital, oncology wards and ICU at max Hospital. These panel discussions were followed by quick reviews on palliative care topics such as venous thromboembolism, delirium and cannabinoids. The sessions concluded with a compact module on quality improvement, based on the EQuIP INDIA (Enabling Quality Improvement in Patient Care) course by the National Cancer Grid.
The sessions were interactive and well received by the audience.
Please click here to read the complete report from the session.
Rajeshwari Foundation sensitises over 100 students in the basics of palliative care on 3rd May, 2023
Rajeshwari Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram, had organized a palliative care orientation program on Wednesday, 3rd May, 2023, at the Rajeshwari Foundation’s training Hall.
The sensitisation session was attended by 125 students of the Indira Gandhi National Open University, NSS College, UIT College, Thiruvananthapuram. Dr K L Babu (Retired Principal, Government Homeopathic Medical College, Kozhikode), Mr Mujeeb Kuttamassery (Central Council Member, South Zone, IAPC) and Mr K Radhakrishna Menon (Vice President, National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH and Integrative Medicine) introduced the audience to the basic principles and concepts in palliative care.
The program was organised by the core team from the Rajeshwari Foundation represented by Adv. Suresh Kumar Pillai (President), Mr M R Manoj (Secretary) and Ms Malini (Treasurer).
The Rajeswari Foundation is a Charitable NGO based at Jagathi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kearala, which began its operations in 2007 to focus on the delivery of palliative care for those patients who are afflicted with life limiting illnesses. The foundation provides Home care services, Out Patient services and Hospice care.
Rajagiri Karunya Trust trains 13 volunteers in the basics of palliative care between 5th and 6th May, 2023
The Rajagiri Karunya Trust conducted the 2-day in-person component of the 5-day ‘Basic Certificate Course in Palliative Care for Volunteers’ between, Friday, 5th May, 2023, and Saturday, 6th May, 2023. This two day training will be supplemented with a 3-day practical training component later this month.
The interactive training program was conducted at the Rajagiri Hospital, Aluva, Kerala. The sessions were attended by 13 participants represented by a combination of students, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers) and individuals from the community who are interested in palliative care.
During this two day classroom training session, course participants were introduced to the concept and principles of palliative care, role of volunteers, sensitised to the palliative care services and policies of Rajagiri Hospital, how to identify patients, end of life care, communication skills, etc.
Sessions were delivered in Malayalam (local regional language) by palliative care doctors, nurses, social workers and physiotherapists and current senior volunteers from the Rajagiri Hospital.
Course participants will now proceed to undertake a three day field visit with the palliative care team of Rajagiri Hospital to successfully complete the course.
Karunashraya sensitises 135 Nursing students to the concept of palliative care on 2nd and 9th May, 2023
The Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, sensitised 135 Nursing students to the concept of hospice and palliative care in two batches in May 2023.
The first batch included 40 final year BSc Nursing students and their faculty from St Teresa College of Nursing, Bengaluru, on Tuesday, 2nd May, 2023, while the second batch included 95 third-year BSc Nursing students and their faculty from Koshy’s College of Nursing, Bengaluru, on Tuesday, 9th May, 2023.
The objectives of these sensitisation activities were to help the students and their faculty better understand the concept of palliative care for terminally ill advanced cancer patients and what a hospice is.
The students and their faculty were then taken on a tour of the hospice to meet the members of the hospice. During this interaction, students had the opportunity to observe the interdisciplinary approach to care, in which all team members are needed to work together to provide holistic care to the patients and their families. Such sensitisation activities facilitated the students and their faculty to gain insights into the challenges of providing quality end-of-life care to dying patients in addition to developing compassion and a deeper understanding of their role in this noble profession.
The Government Medical College, Barmer, conducts a palliative care awareness workshop on 13th & 14th May, 2023
The Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan, organised a workshop on the ‘Basics of Palliative Care’ on Saturday, 13th May, 2023, and Sunday, 14th May, 2023. The training was sponsored by the Cipla palliative care project of AIIMS Jodhpur.
An approx. 45 delegates representing nursing, medical and surgical specialities were sensitised through this two-day workshop which was held at the Auditorium of the Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan. Prof. Dr R K Anseri (Principal, Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan) graced the program on both the days.
The two-day interactive workshop delivered sessions on introduction to the concept of palliative care, pain management, safe use of opioids, Role of tertiary care hospital in development of palliative care, nursing care of common symptoms, GI and Respiratory symptom management, emergencies, ethics in palliative care and home care.
The faculty for the workshop was represented by a team from AIIMS Jodhpur who included by Dr Manoj Kamal (Additional Professor, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care), Dr Bharat Paliwal (Additional Professor, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care), Dr Srikanth Srinivasan (Additional Professor, Department of Community Medicine and Family Medicine), Mr Jagdish (Nursing officer, Pain and Palliative Care Unit) and Mr Ramswaroop Garwa (Nursing Officer, Department of Endocrinology) and Dr Geeta Singariya (Senior Professor, Department of Anaesthesia, Dr SN Medical College, Jodhpur). Dr Jagdish Kumawat, was the Organising Secretary of the workshop.
Shanti Palliative Care Center, Siliguri, conducts a palliative care sensitisation session at Kurseong on 14th May, 2023
The Shanti Palliative Care Center, Siliguri, West Bengal had organised a short one hour sensitisation program at Kurseong, West Bengal on Sunday, 14th May, 2023.
The very engaging sensitisation session was conducted by Dr Pankaj Chowdhary (Consultant Clinical Oncologist, Shanti Nursing Home; Palliative Care Physician) at the St Joseph’s School Hall, Kurseong, West Bengal.
32 individuals from various walks of life were sensitised on the concept of palliation and palliative care. Dr Chowdhary also included a few case studies on provisioning home based care to further cement the concepts he had introduced to the audience earlier. The audience included a mix of various community healthcare workers and advocates represented by priests, teachers, parishioners, social workers and students.
The sensitisation session concluded with a rich discussion and with the audience requesting for another awareness program to be organised for the region’s general community. A few members from the audience also expressed interest towards participating in the IAPCs structured volunteer training program.
The 2nd CME and the 1st CNE of the IAPC’s Delhi State Chapter ‘Palliative Care: Nursing Perspective’ was conducted on 20th May, 2023
The Delhi Chapter of the IAPC, conducted their second Continuous Medical Education (CME) and their first Continuous Nursing Education (CNE) session on ‘Palliative Care: Nursing Perspective’, on Saturday, 20th May, 2023, at the JLN Auditorium, AIIMS, New Delhi.
The engaging event was attended by over 200 delegates which included 62 Doctors, 138 Nurses, 5 Physiotherapists and others.
The session began with Dr Seema Mishra (Chairman, Delhi Chapter, IAPC) welcoming the audience. Dr Sushma Bhatnagar (President, IAPC), Dr SVS Deo (President, Delhi Oncology Forum), Dr Gowri Nambiar Sengupta (DDG, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India) and Ms Anjana Dhall (President, Delhi Nursing Council) each addressing the gathering thereafter. This was followed by the ceremonial lighting of the lamp.
The lectures and workshops for the day included sessions on Introducing the concept of palliative care, pain management, role of non-pharmacological techniques in pain management, symptom management in palliative care, communication skills, demonstration based presentations, ethical issues in palliative care, EoL care, Psychological and Spiritual issues in palliative care etc.
The day concluded with a riveting and an adrenalin high quiz, which saw the participation of 4 teams represented by 16 nurses from various hospitals across Delhi and NCR (AIIMS New Delhi, Sir Gangaram Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, and Max Hospital).
Nursing participants of the CNE were also accredited for 6 hours.
Registrations invited for the SCI, Guwahati’s Hurricane Quiz – ‘Crossroads’ on 17th June, 2023
The Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, State Cancer Institute (SCI), Guwahati, Assam, is organising a quiz, ‘Crossroads’ on pain and palliative medicine at 10:30 a.m. onwards on Saturday, 17th June, 2023, at the Auditorium, State Cancer Institute, Guwahati, Assam.
The in-person quiz is being conducted as a mechanism to improve awareness about palliative care in the region.
Anyone practising palliative medicine / care is eligible to register for the quiz, as a team. Each team will be represented by 2 participants.
The organisers share that the team winning the first prize will receive a cash prize of INR 10,000/-, the winners of the second prize will receive INR 7,000/- and the winners of the third prize will receive INR 5,000/-.
Dr Arun Deka (Professor, Department on Onco Anesthesia; Head, Palliative Medicine, SCI) shares “We conceived this idea as we wanted an innovative way to not only create awareness about palliative medicine, but to also engage these professionals in a fun activity while doing so. I am hoping that this initiative will further propel our colleagues interest towards palliative medicine”.
Register before 5 p.m. on Saturday, 10th June, 2023 to participate in ‘Crossroads’. Please click here to register for the quiz.
Please contact Dr Arun Deka at +91 70028 33394, in case of any queries
Registrations invited for the MPMMCC and HBCH, TMC, Varanasi’s in-person CME and Workshop on ‘Advanced Wound Care’ on 24th June, 2023
The Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, MPMMCC (Mahamana Pandit Madan Mohan Malviya Cancer Centre) and HBCH (Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital), TMC (Tata Memorial Center), Varanasi, are inviting registrations for their Continuing Medical Education (CME) and workshop on ‘Advanced Wound Care’ on Saturday, 24th June, 2023. The in-person workshop will be organised at the Mini Auditorium at MPMMCC, Varanasi.
The one-day workshop will include sessions on Principles of wound healing and Assessment of Wounds, Management of Difficult Wounds, Wound care products and dressing selection, innovations and effectiveness in advanced wound dressing, and pain management in wound dressing. The CME will also include a panel discussion on advanced wound care management, and a hands-on workshop to demonstrate to participants the application techniques of advanced wound dressing.
Doctors and nurses are invited to register before Sunday, 18th June, 2023, to book their slot in the workshop.
Please click here to register for the CME.
Please click here to download the session brochure.
Update from IAPC Academy
Report on activities in May
The IAPC’s online Academy Lecture Series 6 presented the palliative care fraternity with 5 fantastic lectures in May, 2023. The ongoing series 6 is designed to deliver a total of 35 lectures, which will be presented by students of MD and DNB in Palliative Medicine from across the country and moderated by a Faculty from their respective center.
The first lecture of the month was a fantastic lecture on ‘Antibiotic treatment in end-of-life cancer patients’ presented by Dr Ajila Ajith Kumar, and moderated by Dr Shamali Poojary. This was followed by an excellent presentation by Dr Aakash Hinduja on ‘Palliative care for bedridden patients’ which was moderated by Dr K Praveen Kumar. The third session for the month was an interesting presentation on ‘Palliative dermatology: An area of care yet to be explored’, presented by Dr Rabiya Razak and moderated by Dr Saurabh Vig. This session was followed with an excellent and a thought provoking session on ‘Palliative care in humanitarian crisis’ presented by Dr Sanjeev Kumar and moderated by Dr Sushma Bhatnagar. Dr Nitin Pandey’s comprehensive presentation on ‘Tele-medicine and Tele-health in palliative care’ moderated by Dr Ravi Umrania, concluded the sessions for the month.
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 June
We invite you to join us for the lectures scheduled for June from Series 6. Details below:
