Education and Training
Final Examination Held Across India on 4th October 2025 for IAPC’s Foundation Course in the Essentials of Palliative Care
A total of 184 Doctors and 43 Nurses appeared for the final online examination of the IAPC’s Foundation Course in the Essentials of Palliative Care for the July 2025 batch. The examination was conducted across 36 IAPC-authorised centres located in various regions of India.
Since its inception in 2007, this course has remained one of India’s most widely attended introductory programs in palliative care. Conducted twice a year, the course has trained over 11,000 clinicians to date, highlighting its significant contribution to capacity building and the strengthening of palliative care across the country.
The next cohort of the course will commence in January 2026, with online applications opening by mid-November 2025. Details will be provided here in due time.
Dr. Lulu Mathews (Chairperson, Board of Examinations, IAPC) congratulated and extended heartfelt appreciation to all course coordinators and faculty across the country for their tireless dedication and seamless conduct of both the teaching and examination components of the program.
Last Few Days to Register for IAPC’s Foundation Course in Palliative Care for Volunteers – Applications Close on Saturday, 15th November 2025
Applications are invited for the 9th online batch of the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in Palliative Care for Volunteers’.
Individuals who can commit, who have the time, and are willing to offer their services in palliative care facilities are invited to register for the course which aims to equip and empower ‘compassionate volunteers’ with relevant knowledge and interpersonal skills needed to volunteer in palliative care settings. The course will therefore place strong emphasis on communication skills, counselling skills, and the various psycho-social issues and its management, which a volunteer might potentially be faced with.
The course will be delivered in two components: a 16-hour virtual and theoretical ‘Part A’ component, and a 16 hour in-person practical ‘Part B’ component. Only those candidates successfully completing both components of the program will be eligible to receive the course completion certificate.
The 16-hour ‘Part A’ component of the course will be delivered over 6 days (3 hours each during the weekdays and 4 – 5 hours over the weekend) in November 2025. The theory sessions will be conducted between Thursday, 20th November and Tuesday, 25th November, 2025.
Last date to submit application: Saturday, 15th November 2025.
Please click here for further details and to register for the course.
Register now to participate in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in the Physiotherapy – Palliative Care interface’
The IAPC is inviting registrations for the IAPC’s ‘Foundation Course in the Physiotherapy – Palliative Care interface’, scheduled to be held on Friday, 28th and Saturday, 29th November 2025.
This course aims to not only enhance a physiotherapists’ understanding of how they can contribute towards the rendering of holistic palliative care, but also strives to educate the palliative care community on how physiotherapy can augment their patient care and symptom management.
Physiotherapists (BPT and MPT), Doctors practising Palliative Medicine (MBBS / BDS), and Nurses practising Palliative Care (BSc Nursing, Diploma in Nursing, or GNM) are invited to register for the course.
The course will be conducted on Friday, 28th November, 2025, between 8.40 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. and Saturday, 29th November, 2025 between 1.30 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.
Please click here for further information and to register for the same. Please note that the last date to register for the course is Saturday, 22nd November 2025.
Apply to participate in the IAPC’s ‘Foundation course in the Essentials of Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care’
Applications are invited for the online batch of the IAPC’s ‘Foundation course in the Essentials of Psychosocial Issues in Palliative Care‘.
The course content is curated to facilitate participants understand the psychosocial and spiritual issues that impact the quality of life of patients with chronic illness and their caregivers. The course aims to also equip participants with the basic skills required to counsel and communicate with patients / caregivers in such situations.
Qualified Doctors (MBBS / BDS), Nurses (BSc Nursing / GNM), Counsellors and Psychologists (BSc / MSc / MA in Psychology) and Social Workers (MSW) are invited to apply for this program.
The virtual course will be delivered over a week in December (3 hours over weekends; 2 hours over weekdays), between Monday, 1st December, 2025, and Sunday, 7th December, 2025 (both dates included).
Last date to submit applications: Wednesday 26th November, 2025 to participate in the program. For further information and to register, please click here.
Please click here for further details and to register for the course.
Applications Invited for the International Program – Fellowship in Palliative Care 2026
Apply now to participate in the Fellowship in Palliative Care 2026 — a comprehensive international program offered through a partnership between the WHO Collaborating Centre at the Institute of Palliative Medicine (India), St. Christopher’s Hospice (London), University College London (UCL), the Sanjeevan Palliative Care Project (Pondicherry), and Bangladesh Medical University (Dhaka).
This six-month online course, conducted in English, spans 240 hours and aims to address the global shortage of leadership in palliative care by providing high-quality, accessible, and affordable training. The program is specifically designed for participants from low- and middle-income countries who are committed to developing and strengthening palliative care services in their regions.
The 2026 Fellowship will begin in January 2026, with online sessions starting in the third week of January. Participants will have access to the online learning platform from 15th January to 31st December, 2026.
The course includes 20 three-hour sessions held between February and September 2026, totalling 140 hours of course activities and 100 hours of guided reading. Additionally, optional workshops (1–2 per month) will be available on various compassionate care topics. Expected time commitment is approximately 40 hours per month.
Click here to download application form or you will get the form by sending a request to fellowship
Please note that it cannot be filled out online. It must be downloaded, completed, and then submitted to the given email id in the application form.
Application deadline: 15th December, 2025.
Second Foundation Course in Home-Based Palliative Care Conducted in North Bengal
The second Foundation Course in Home-Based Palliative Care (HBPC) was successfully conducted from 16th to 18th October, 2025, in Siliguri, marking another significant step in strengthening palliative care capacity in North Bengal. This training was organised by Shanti Palliative Care Centre, Siliguri, West Bengal, in collaboration with Indian Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association and Darjeleeng Oncology Trust.
A total of twenty-six nurses and nursing students from Kalimpong, Darjeeling, Naxalbari, Islampur, and Siliguri participated in this three-day training program held at Inspiria Knowledge Campus, Siliguri. The course was designed to enhance participants’ understanding and skills in delivering compassionate home-based palliative care.
The organisers extended their heart felt gratitutde to all Faculty for their valuable contributions to the training. The faculty delivered the sessions are: Dr Shrikant Atreya (TATA Medical Centre, Kolkata), Dr Pankaj Chowdhary (Siliguri), Ms Sangeetha N and Ms Michelle Noorman (BHT-Karunashraya, Bengaluru), and Mr Terrymize I (IAPC). Dr S N Simha (Medical Director, BHT Karunashraya, Bengaluru) delivered welcome address.
Dr Pankaj Chowdhary on behalf of the organising team shared: “We would also like to extend our special thanks to our well-wishers and supporters — Onquest Laboratories, Mr. Dikshit Poddar (Poddar Car World), as well as schoolmates from St. Xavier’s School, Ranchi, St. Columba’s, New Delhi, and batchmates from Georgians ’81, for their generous support and encouragement.”
The Certificates of Participation were awarded by the Indian Hospice and Palliative Nursing Association (HPNA). Dr Pankaj extended his appreciation to Ms. Sangeetha N(President, HPNA) for her kind support in making this program a success
This collaborative effort reflects the growing commitment to build local capacity and ensure quality home-based palliative care across the region.
National TOT Program under NPPC Conducted at Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre, Bhubaneswar
Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre, Bhubaneswar, hosted the Training of Trainers (TOT) program under the National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC) from 9th to 11th October 2025. Organized in collaboration with the Government of India, Government of Odisha, and the Directorate of Health Services, the program brought together Medical Officers and State Program Officers from across the country to strengthen palliative care at the grassroots level.
Participants engaged in interactive sessions on integrating palliative care into public health systems, presented innovative state-level initiatives through posters, and participated in discussions that encouraged cross-learning and collaboration among healthcare leaders.
The valedictory session was graced by the presence of Dr. Alok Mathur (Deputy Director General of Health Services, MoHFW), Mr. Gurmeet Singh Randhawa (Managing Trustee. Bangalore Hospice Trust), Dr. Nilakantha Mishra (Director of Public Health, Odisha), Dr. Susanta Swain (Additional Director of Health Services (NCD), Odisha), Dr. Naveen Salins (Professor and Head, Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal), and Dr. Nagesh Simha (Medical Director, Karunashraya Hospice).
Update from the APM’s lecture series 3
Highlights from October 2025
The Academy of Palliative Medicine continued its Online Lecture Series 3 in September 2025, with weekly sessions every Monday from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. The series, designed for postgraduate students in palliative medicine and moderated by senior faculty, offered enriching opportunities for evidence-based learning and peer exchange.
Topics, speakers and moderators for October 2025 were:
- 6th October – Evidence based frameworks that can aid in establishing care goals and effective communication.
Speaker: Dr. Archana Vallija | Moderator: Dr. Gayatri Palat - 13th October – Evidence on life- review interventions in its role in palliative care setting
Speaker: Dr. Vamshi Krishna | Moderator: Dr. Gayatri. S. - 27th October – Evidence on Quality Adjusted Life Years and its application in a palliative care setting
Speaker: Dr. Richa Randhawa | Moderator: Dr. Sudha Sarna
Sessions planned for November 2025
We invite you to join us for the lectures scheduled for November 2025, from the APM’s online Lecture Series 3. Details as follows
