From the President’s Desk
Dear esteemed members of IAPC,
I am once again delighted to connect with you through our newsletter. It gives me immense pleasure to share the highlights of Indian Association of Palliative Care’s (IAPC) programs organised during the month of October, especially those conducted in connection with the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (WHPCD) across India!
The IAPC organized three national webinars to advocate for universal access to palliative care, which is also the theme of WHPCD. The third webinar, held on 11th October 2025, witnessed the highest participation and enthusiastic engagement from delegates across the country and abroad. I extend my heartfelt thanks to all our national and international faculty for their valuable contributions, and to every participant for their active listening and insightful inputs.
To further commemorate WHPCD, we also organized two competitions. The Essay Writing and Photography saw wonderful participation and creativity from our members. I sincerely thank Dr. Raghu Thota, Hon. Secretary, IAPC, for guiding Ms. Nisha and Mr. Terrymize, who coordinated the entire event with great efficiency and dedication. A dedicated WHPCD webpage has been created on the IAPC website. I encourage all members to visit and explore it. Congratulations once again to all the participants and winners!
I was also honoured to deliver the Keynote Address at the National Palliative Care Convention, organized by the Goa Chapter of the National Association of Palliative Care for AYUSH and Integrative Medicine, as part of the WHPCD celebrations. The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Honourable Chief Minister of Goa, as the Chief Guest.
Looking ahead, the joint collaborative conference of the Indian Society of Oncology (ISO) and the Indian Society of Medical & Paediatric Oncology (ISMPO) will be held from 31st October to 2nd November 2025 at MGM College, Jaipur. A pre-conference workshop is scheduled for 30th October 2025. I will be representing IAPC, along with Dr. Ashwin Mathur, Professor & Head, Department of Palliative Medicine, SMS Medical College, and Dr. Anjum Joad, Professor & Head, Department of Anaesthesia and Palliative Medicine, Bhagwan Mahavir Hospital, Jaipur.
Our State Chapters are being actively encouraged to register with their respective Charity Commissioners. The West Bengal and Odisha Chapters have already initiated the process. The State Chapter SOPs and Bylaws have been finalized and circulated to all.
In addition, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for various IAPC activities and administrative processes have been prepared and uploaded on the IAPC website. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Col.(Dr.) Yashavant Joshi for drafting these SOPs with inputs from Executive Committee members within six months. All IAPC Life Members are encouraged to review them and offer your valuable inputs.
Our IAPC courses continue to receive excellent participation and positive feedback. It is a testament to the growing commitment to palliative care education in India.
Finally, I am pleased to announce that the IAPC Elections will soon be held for the various positions. Click here to view the announcement.
I thank all members for their continued support and enthusiasm in strengthening the palliative care movement in India. Together, we continue to advance compassionate care for all who need it.
Warm regards.
Dr. Geeta Joshi
President, Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC)