This move comes after the amendments were approved by the Lower House yesterday, following long years of hard work by Indian palliative care advocates.
Dr M.R. Rajagopal, Chair of Pallium India, said: “Honestly, we find it difficult to believe that it happened. (The bill was) the last item to get attention before the Parliament session ended,” before reporting a comment by Mr Rajesh Nandan Srivastava: “It was like hitting a six off the last ball when six were needed”.
Dr Rajogopal continued: “It is done! It has been a great journey, frustrating most of the time, but nevertheless a great experience, finding goodness in people all over the country, in the highest places in the Government as well as among the common people.
“In 1993, we did not know the road to take. We were like the Cheshire cat who told Alice in Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece: “When you don’t know where you are going, every road will take you there.” Well, we finally got here. Thank you everyone who supported the palliative care people in the country to get here and to gain the power to wipe away some more tears.”
Read an interview with Dr Rajagopal and a report by Human Rights Watch on the importance of this decision, prior to the amendments being passed.
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