WHY WE MUST FOCUS ON PALLIATIVE CARE

branch of the hospice movement. It encompasses a range of services to patients, seeking to alleviate their physical and mental suffering. The word palliative is derived from the Latin

palliare

- GEETHA RAVICHANDRAN

In India, access to opioids for pain management was taken up by the palliative care community. This resulted in an amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act in 2014, creating the category of 'essential narcotic drugs'. Palliative care was also included in the National Health Policy of 2017. It has grown through efforts in capacity building, community outreach and educational collaboration with global organisations. Most elements of palliative care are part of undergraduate medical curriculums and has evolved as a clinical speciality in India.

It is estimated that about 7.2 million Indians would require palliative care every year. However, the access to palliative care services is uneven, more so in rural areas and for patients in lower socio-economic stratums. In this, states such as Kerala have taken a lead in creating palliative care centres and their model is worth replicating.