Achieving the promise – Dr. M. R. Rajagopal, Thiruvananthapuram The theme of the World Hospice and Palliative Care Day this year is “Achieving the promise: universal access to Palliative care”. A noble goal, no doubt. Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a global goal under the UN sustainable development goals (SDG), is supposed to be achieved by…
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From Paper to Patients: Why India must put Palliative Care Policies into Practice – Ms. Smriti Rana, Thiruvananthapuram Only 4% of India’s population has access to palliative care. Many of the right ideas have already been written into policies: the National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC, 2012), the National Health Policy (2017) that recognizes palliative…
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Touching Lives through Palliative Care – Ms. Maya Nair, Indore When I look back on my life, I see a journey shaped by compassion and discipline. In 1989, I stepped into the Operation Theatre (OT) as a young nurse, and for more than 32 years, it was my world. The sounds of instruments, the sterile…
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“Even though I’m leaving, a piece of me will stay” – T, age 15 – Dr. Mayank Gupta, Bathinda In the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis, 15-year-old T* discovered a powerful outlet in art. What began as a personal form of expression soon evolved into something greater: a lasting legacy that brought her purpose,…
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Clinical Therapeutic Communication (CTC) in Oncology: Translating Pain into Perspective – Dr. Ravi Kiran Pothamsetty, Madurai In the world of oncology, words are not merely tools for conveying information — they are instruments of healing. Whether it’s the moment a diagnosis is shared, a quiet reassurance offered to an anxious caregiver, or the heavy silence…
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The Language of Care: Evolving Palliative Nursing to Meet Universal Challenges – Ms. Anu Savio Thelly, United Arab Emirates Palliative care nursing must develop a “public” language—one free from the technical jargon of our profession and designed for open conversations about the universal problems faced by our society. This shift is not just a matter…
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Realising compassion in people and communities: A step towards universal access to palliative care – Ms. Heather Richardson, London Introduction This paper originally had the title “Empowering people and compassionate communities.” I love the sentiment, and it would have been easy to put pen to paper, writing in an enthusiastic way about ideas to help…
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A Hand to Hold, A Shoulder to Lean On: The Soul of Palliative Care – Dr. Mujeeb Kuttamassery, Kochi The United Nations observes the International Day of Friendship every year on 30th July to promote friendship, peace, and understanding among people, cultures, and nations. To mark this occasion, the IAPC features this article in celebration…
Read MoreWorld Hospice & Palliative Care Day 2025 – Achieving the Promise: Universal Access to Palliative Care – Dr. Stephen Connor, Virginia, USA This year we celebrate the 20th anniversary of World Hospice & Palliative Care Day (World Day). What started as ‘Voices for Hospice’ concerts around the world turned into a day to recognise hospice…
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The transforming power of palliative care – A Nurse’s experience – Ms. Suchetna, New Delhi My name is Suchetna, and I work as a palliative care nurse at the Pain and Palliative Outpatient Department (Pain Clinic) of Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre (RGCIRC). My journey in nursing began when I completed my General…
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