Dr Lukas Radbruch, President of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), gave the inaugural address at the meeting which was chaired by Dr Uma Mohandas.
Dr Babu Paul IAS, noted social luminary, thinker and speaker, read out the Kerala declaration, which was adopted by the meeting.
The ‘pain and palliative care cell’ has been in existence for a few years, but for the first time, Indian Medical Association, Kerala is entering into a partnership with Pallium India on this activity.
The partnership will have year-long activities, and hopes to lead to the creation of new palliative care units in the state.
Dr M.R. Rajagopal, chairman of Pallium Inidia, said: “The palliative care growth in Kerala has been a huge achievement, particularly in terms of involving the community and reaching out through the primary health centres, but a major deficiency in this process has been very inadequate involvement of doctors.
“This year, IMA and Pallium India plan to reach out to doctors, encouraging them to get some training and to integrate palliative care into their practice or, when possible, to start dedicated palliative care services.”
Follow the work of the partnership on the website of Pallium India.
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