From the President’s Desk
Dear friends,
I am once again delighted to connect with you through our monthly newsletter. It gives me great pleasure to reflect on the remarkable success of IAPCON 2026, the 33rd Annual International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care, held in Hyderabad from 13th February to 15th February 2026. The curated scientific sessions truly reflected the theme “Continuum of Care: Hospital Hospice and Home”. The conference was not merely an academic gathering, it has become a defining milestone in our collective journey to embed palliative care across all levels of the health system.
With over 650 delegates from across India and abroad, IAPCON 2026 demonstrated both the depth and breadth of our discipline. The scientific deliberations reinforced an essential truth that palliative care must be integrated into mainstream healthcare rather than function in isolation. Dedicated tracks in nephrology, cardiology, neurology, paediatrics, psychosocial care, nursing, education, research, policy, and community engagement reflected the evolving scope of our field. The sixteen preconference workshops conducted across multiple venues in Hyderabad brought together 127 faculty and 385 delegates in highly interactive learning environments. These sessions addressed leadership development, quality improvement, narcotic regulations, pulmonary and neuropalliative care, home hospice models, psychosocial and spiritual care, and paediatric decision making. Such focused capacity building is vital if we are to translate palliative care principles into practice.
We were also extremely privileged to honour the excellence and legacy of our members during the conference. The IAPC Visionary Award was conferred upon Dr M T Bhatia, a pioneer and founding Secretary of IAPC. The award acknowledges his foundational role in shaping palliative care in India. Additionally, the IAPC Oration was delivered by Dr Sukdev Nayak. The fraternity is still inspired by his decades of service and leadership. These awards remind us that institutions are built on the commitment, courage, and conviction of people who inspire and lead others. The unveiling of the IAPC Theme Song and the launch of the IAPC Mobile App brought me great joy. These important publications and digital tools reflected our willingness to embrace innovation while staying grounded in compassion. The adoption of silent conference technology and green initiatives further demonstrated our responsibility toward sustainability and efficient knowledge dissemination. I thank the organising team, faculty, delegates, volunteers, and partners who contributed to making IAPCON 2026 a benchmark event.
I also want to give a warm welcome to the new members of the IAPC Executive Committee. I want to congratulate Dr Sanghamitra Bora on becoming Secretary. I am happy to have Dr Ashwin Mathur, Dr Brajesh Kumar Ratre, Dr Divya Narayana, Dr Himanshu Prince, and Dr Shikhar More as Regional Representatives. I look forward to working closely with each of them as we strengthen governance, regional engagement, and academic initiatives across the country.
As we move forward, the insights and energy generated at IAPCON 2026 must translate into measurable progress. Integration of services, strengthening of home-based models, policy advocacy, research excellence, and quality standards must remain central to our agenda. The continuum of care we discussed in Hyderabad must become a lived reality for patients and families across India.
Warm regards.
Dr. Geeta Joshi
President
Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)