Until now, Kerala was the only state in India (out of 28) to have such a policy.
A government resolution announcing the decision to implement a state-wide palliative care programme gives further details of the guidelines, strategies and activities that will support phased improvements to the quality of life for people with life-limiting conditions and their carers.
Plans include:
- training for healthcare professionals
- the inclusion of palliative care in medicine, nursing, pharmacy and social work curriculum
- the simplification of the process of licensing, storage and distribution of pain relieving drugs
- the development of palliative care units in hospitals and home-based palliative care services.
A longer article on the announcement has been published in the India edition of ehospice.
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