Apply Now for IAPC’s Foundation Course in Palliative Care Pharmacy; 26 September 2026

Applications are invited for the 9th online batch of the ‘IAPC’s Foundation Course in Palliative Care Pharmacy (FCPCP)’, scheduled to be held on Saturday, 26th September, 2026. With the last date for applications fast approaching, interested candidates are encouraged to apply at the earliest.

Important Dates:

Last date to submit application: 21^st September 2026.

Course Date: 26^th September 2026

This is a basic course which aims to equip participants with adequate knowledge of commonly used drugs in Palliative Care for pain management and to manage other symptoms. The course will also cover Essential Narcotic Drugs and Narcotic Drugs, along with the technical legalities to procure, store, dispense and document the same.

The 7-hour course will be delivered in two parts; a virtual 4.5-hour Part A module and a 2.5-hour Part B module.

While the course is primarily designed for candidates with a Diploma or a Degree in Pharmacy, Doctors (MBBS, BDS) are also eligible to participate in the course.

Please click here for further information and to register for the training program.

Please click here to submit application.

TMC-CEPaC PREP-M 2026: A Successful Three-Day Postgraduate Review for MD / DNB Palliative Medicine Trainees

The TMC-CEPaC PREP-M 2026 (Postgraduate Review for Examination in Palliative Medicine) was successfully conducted as a three-day intensive programme from 14 to 16 August 2026, bringing together 27 MD/DNB Palliative Medicine trainees from across India and 15 faculty members. This programme was organised by the Department of Palliative Medicine, Tata Memorial Hospital, HBNI, Mumbai.

Built around the theme “Think Like an Examiner • Perform Like a Consultant,” PREP-M 2026 was designed to move beyond conventional examination preparation. With the guiding principle “No passive lectures. Every session is interactive,” the programme used innovative, participant-centred formats to encourage clinical reasoning, active participation and examination-oriented thinking.

The scientific programme covered a wide range of clinically relevant areas including advanced cancer pain, dyspnoea, psychological issues, neuropathic pain, cachexia, geriatric care, caregiver assessment, delirium, gastrointestinal symptoms and malignant bowel obstruction, palliative sedation, pediatric palliative care, special populations, neurological and cardiorespiratory conditions, renal failure and oncological emergencies.

A key feature was the variety of innovative learning formats. These included: Write the Winning Answer, Clinical Detective, Prescription Clinic, Debate, MDT Simulation, Caregiver Clinic, Ethics Court, Algorithm Builder, Kaun Banega Championship, Case Arena, Communication Olympics, OSCE Mega Circuit, Procedure Boot Camp, Exam Survival Lab and PREP-M Premier League.

The programme also introduced a structured 45-minute teaching template incorporating an Exam Trigger, How Would You Write This? interactive KBC, a Viva Hot Seat, and Golden Pearls—ensuring that every session remained focused on examination expectations while retaining clinical relevance.

The programme culminated in hands-on learning through the Procedure Boot Camp, 15-station OSCE Mega Circuit, and Exam Survival Lab, covering procedures, spotters, drugs, ECG, imaging and thesis preparation.

Another important milestone was the release of the Tata Memorial Hospital PREP-M Handbook, developed as a practical examination-oriented resource for postgraduate trainees.

PREP-M 2026 provided an opportunity for peer learning, faculty interaction, clinical reasoning and experiential examination preparation in a collaborative environment. The enthusiastic participation and feedback have encouraged the team to further refine and evolve PREP-M as a platform for strengthening postgraduate education and examination preparedness in Palliative Medicine across India. This will be a yearly activity by Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai, and the next PREP-M course is scheduled for the last week of March or early April 2027, the organisers confirmed.

Faculty Feedback

“The programme was curated creatively and delivered methodically by Team TMH. The goals were clear and achieved. Dedicated sessions from 8:30 am to 7 pm, over 3 days, covered theory and practical examination, including the investigations and OSCE stations, and communication scenarios. Sessions spanned basic clinical science to recent guidelines. Involving faculty from diverse palliative care setups and training backgrounds added breadth to the knowledge and experience shared. This should be an annual programme.”

– Dr. Anjum Khan Joad, Director and HoD Palliative Care, Department of Anaesthesia & Palliative Care, BMCH& RC, Jaipur

“It was a much-needed exercise for both the students and faculty. It helped them network, given the differential exposure and teaching styles across different institutes. It was a stimulating yet safe space for mutual learning. Moving forward, I suggest that potential and current examiners should attend, to provide a more uniform and objective examination format for the young discipline of Palliative Medicine.”

– Dr. Meenakshi V V, Prof. and Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, Cancer Institute ( WIA), Adyar Chennai

Hospice & Palliative Care Nursing Training Programme at Max Smart Super Specialty Hospital, Saket, New Delhi

A two-day training programme on Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing was successfully conducted by the Hospice & Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA) at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi, on 20 and 21 August 2026. The programme was organised with the objective of strengthening the knowledge, clinical competencies, and confidence of nursing professionals in providing holistic, compassionate, and evidence-based care to individuals living with serious, chronic, and life-limiting illnesses.

The first day of the programme commenced with registration and a pre-test, followed by a session on Introduction to Palliative Care facilitated by Dr Mamta Parihar. The formal inaugural ceremony included a lamp-lighting ceremony, welcome address, and introduction to HPNAI. Senior representatives and leaders from Max Healthcare and Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, including Dr. (Prof.) Sushma Bhatnagar, Dr Gaurav Channa, Ms Manju Tyagi, Dr Deepa Maria Raju, along with the HPNA team, participated in the inaugural programme. Dr. (Prof.) Sushma Bhatnagar, in her inaugural speech emphasized the importance of empowering the nurses working in palliative care settings. She further appreciated the efforts of HPNA in conducting such training programmes. Mrs Sangeetha N (President HPNA) delivered her welcome address through video conferencing.

The faculties included Mrs Nileema Sharad Shingade (I/C, Senior Nursing Ofiicer, AIIMS Delhi), Dr Mamta Parihar (Associate Professor, Govt. College of Nursing, Dr. SN Medical college, Jodhpur), Mr Arvind Sharma (Senior Nursing Officer, AIIMS Jodhpur), Mr Ramswaroop (Senior Nursing Officer, AIIMS Jodhpur), Mr. Mathew Varghese V (Nursing Officer, Dr B.R.A IRCH, AIIMS Delhi), and Dr. Umashanker Agrawal (Tutor, College of Nursing, AIIMS, Delhi). The programme adopted an interactive and participatory approach, incorporating lectures, case-based discussions, clinical scenarios, group discussions, and opportunities for questions and reflection. Participants actively shared their clinical experiences through role-plays, which facilitated peer learning and helped bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and clinical practice.

Dr. Deepa proposed the vote of thanks, and Ms. Manju Tyagi closed the session, emphasising continued professional development, multidisciplinary collaboration, and advocacy for patients and families.

IAPC Assam Chapter Organised a Talk on “Nutrition in Cancer”

A talk on “Nutrition in Cancer” was organised by the Assam State Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care during its General Body Meeting, held on 18 August 2026 in Guwahati.

Dr. Kabindra Bhagabati (Secretary, IAPC Assam Chapter) delivered the talk.

Dr. Dinesh Chandra Goswami (Chairman, IAPC Assam Chapter) presided over the function. Members actively participated in the discussion that followed.

Mr. Uttam Changmai presented the activities of the Assam Chapter.

IAPC-APM Monday Morning Lecture Series

Update from August 2026

The IAPC Academy of Palliative Medicine continued its Monday morning Lectures in August 2026. Topics, speakers, and moderators were as follows:

3rd August – “Palliative Sedation: Ethical and Clinical Perspectives”
Speaker: Dr Rutavij Kukadiya | Moderator: Dr Savan Kukadia (Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad)

10th August – “Integrating Palliative Care in Chronic Organ Failure (Lung)”
Speaker: Dr Shabnam Alam | Moderator: Dr Puneet Rathore (AIIMS, New Delhi)

17th August – “Integrating Palliative Care in Chronic Organ Failure (Kidney)”
Speaker: Dr Deepika | Moderator: Dr Pratyasa Padhi (St John’s Medical College & Hospital, Bangalore)

24th August – “Integrating Palliative Care in Chronic Organ Failure (Chronic Hepatobiliary Disease)”
Speaker: Dr Rohit Kumar | Moderator: Dr Gaurav Sharma (SMS Medical College, Jaipur)

Sessions planned for September 2026

We warmly invite you to join the lectures scheduled for September 2026. Details as follows: