Palliative Care / Hospice – State of the Union

India, being home to one –sixth of the world’s population has a huge burden of suffering from life limiting diseases. It is estimated that in India the total no. of people who need palliative care (PC) is likely to be 5.4 million people a year. Though PC was introduced nearly 30 years ago, it is still in its infancy with less than 1% of patients having access to PC. Obstacles are too many and not only include factors like population density, poverty, geographical density, restrictive policies regarding opioid prescription, workforce development at base level but also limited national PC policy and lack of institutional interest in palliative care.

However there has been a steady progress in the past few years through community owned PC services. South Indian state of Kerala which has just 3% of Indian population stands out in terms of achieving coverage of more than 90% of the palliative care services in the country. There is a huge dearth of such centers in Karnataka and India.

The Karnataka State palliative care policy reports that over 1.8 lakhs of people are diagnosed with cancer, 2 lakhs people with HIV and a larger unknown number of people with other incurable illnesses are currently in pain and suffering. Of the 1.8 lakh cancer patients registered for treatment, around 60,000 new patients are diagnosed each year and in advanced stages of the disease.

Additionally, the elderly and patients suffering from other chronic illnesses like HIV, chronic kidney, heart, neurological or hepatic diseases also require Palliative Care. It is estimated that less than 2% of these patients receive palliative care.

Palliative Care in the State is provided by a few hospitals and NGOs some of which include the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology (KMIO), Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya, Bangalore Baptist Hospital, St Johns Medical College and Hospital, Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, Kasturba Medical College etc.

What is Palliative Care ?

Palliative care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family.

Palliative care is the active total care applicable from the time of diagnosis, aimed at improving the quality of life of patients and their families facing serious life-limiting illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering from pain and other physical symptoms as well as psychological, social and spiritual distress through socially acceptable and affordable interventions.

Palliative medicine may not change the harsh realities of advanced cancer, but its timely provision will ensure that distressing symptoms are alleviated, and that the quality of a patient’s journey is maintained to every extent possible.

Sukruthi Home Palliative Care

Sukruthi Charitable Trust in partnership with the Dept of Pain and Palliative Medicine, St. John’s Medical College Hospital recently launched a home-based palliative care service. This service is absolutely free-of-cost including medications and disposables.

This service aims to improve the quality of life of the patient from every angle. It includes the following goals: