Partnering to improve Palliative Care in India

In past year the Hyderabad Centre for Palliative Care, in partnership with Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration (TWCC) and the Government of Telangana, has significantly expanded the rural and community palliative program in the state. TWCC’s program lead in Hyderabad, Dr Gayatri Palat, and her team, trained and help establish 19 new community hubs, despite the additional stress and burden the COVID-19 pandemic has created.

These community palliative care hubs, called Palliative Seva Kendras (PSK), provide follow-up with patients after they leave the tertiary cancer hospital and return home, and allows the Hyderabad Centre team to build relationships and trust with the local communities. And provide support for the newly trained palliative care nurses, doctors, social workers and volunteers. Each PSK consists of an in-patient facility and a home-based community program and receives ongoing support and mentorship from the Hyderabad Centre for Palliative Care.

When Dr. Gillian Fyles, TWCC Director and India Program Lead, visited Hyderabad in 2019 and early 2020 she saw firsthand the impact these PSKs have on the care of the villagers.

“They had a place to come for symptom management and support, respite for their families and a van to bring professional caregivers to their homes when needed,” Dr. Fyles says.

This model for scaling up palliative care services within rural communities is a model for the expansion of palliative care service across South Asia.

Please help our collaboration expand this indispensable care in rural communities – impacting individual lives in rural India and South Asia.