From the President’s Desk
Dear Friends,
Greetings!
I extend my warm wishes to all our colleagues on the occasion of National Doctors’ Day. To mark this special day, the July edition of the IAPC Newsletter features the infographic, “Who Heals the Healers? Honouring the Heart Behind Palliative Care,” along with reflective articles that pay tribute to the compassion, resilience, and often-unseen emotional journey of palliative care physicians.
As we celebrate our profession, I am delighted to announce a new IAPC initiative to recognise and felicitate outstanding young achievers every year. This year, we proudly honour Dr Divya Sai, who completed her DNB Palliative Medicine training at Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Hyderabad, and is the recipient of the NBEMS President’s Gold Medal in Palliative Medicine 2026, awarded for securing First Rank in the DNB Palliative Medicine examination. Heartiest congratulations, Dr Divya Sai. We wish you every success as you continue your inspiring journey in palliative medicine.
We have many more exciting opportunities for our members in the months ahead. IAPC is pleased to announce the opening of registrations for one of the most prestigious recognitions in palliative nursing—the IAPC Gold Medal for Nurses 2026. I encourage eligible nurses from across the country to participate. Details are available in the Announcements section of this newsletter.
Preparations for the Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPCON 2027), Bhubaneswar, are gathering momentum. I am pleased to announce IAPC’s awards worth Rs 4 lakhs for the best oral and poster presentations, comprising 24 awards across various categories. I warmly encourage our members to register, submit abstracts, showcase their work, and compete for these prestigious awards. Further details are available in the Announcements section.
I am delighted to share encouraging news about the Indian Journal of Palliative Care (IJPC). The journal’s Journal Impact Factor has increased from 1.2 to 1.8, while its Scopus CiteScore has risen from 2.1 to 2.5, reflecting an impressive 19% increase. My heartfelt congratulations to Dr Raghavendra Ramanjulu, Editor-in-Chief, Dr Raghu Thota, Editor, the entire IJPC editorial team, reviewers, authors, and contributors for this remarkable achievement.
Education continues to be one of IAPC’s strongest pillars. We have successfully launched another cycle of academic programmes under the Academy of Palliative Medicine. Advanced Nursing Skills in Palliative Care (ANSPC), Cohort 4, with 38 participants, commenced on 16th June 2026, while the Certificate Course in Basics of Palliative Care, Cohort 3, with 13 participants, will commence on 4th July 2026. I extend my sincere appreciation to Dr Sanghamitra Bora (Hon. Secretary, IAPC) and all the dedicated faculty members whose tireless commitment has made these programmes possible.
The IAPC Foundation Course in Physiotherapy–Palliative Care Interface was also conducted successfully on 26–27 June 2026, with the participation of 65 clinicians. I thank our course chairs and faculty for making this programme a success. I would especially like to acknowledge Dr Tashi Chotton from Arunachal Pradesh for her dedicated efforts in facilitating the participation of 44 physiotherapists.
I am also pleased to announce the introduction of the IAPC Fellowship in Home and Hospice Palliative Care, a significant step towards strengthening specialised training in this vital area. We look forward to welcoming the inaugural batch of fellows in August 2026.
I would like to share some key developments in our continued efforts to strengthen access to palliative care under the Ayushman Bharat PMJAY scheme. Last month, a virtual review meeting was held with the Pallium India core team to review the progress of the palliative medicine packages under PMJAY. The meeting was attended by Dr Nandini Vallath, Dr Jennifer Jeba, Dr Priti Sanghavi (GCRI) and members of the Pallium India along with President and Secretary of IAPC. I sincerely appreciate the efforts of Dr Nandini Vallath and Dr Jennifer Jeba in advancing this important initiative.
Preparations are also progressing well for the International Conference being organised jointly by IAPC and Alpha Palliative Care to commemorate World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD). The conference will be held from 9–11 October 2026 in Thrissur, Kerala. I encourage all members to plan activities in their respective regions and join the global movement to raise awareness about palliative care on World Day.
With warm regards,
Dr. Geeta Joshi
President
Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)