India faces a growing crisis of unaddressed pain and suffering due to lack of palliative care services. The urgent need to expand palliative care has been highlighted amidst increasing non-communicable diseases and healthcare pressures.
What is Palliative Care?
- Palliative care is a specialised type of medical support that focuses on improving the quality of life for people with serious illnesses.
- Focuses on relief from pain and other distressing symptoms, not curing the disease.
- Addresses emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs.
- Aims to provide dignity, comfort, and support at any stage of serious illness.
The Gap in India:
- Around 7 to 10 million Indians need palliative care yearly, but only 1%-2% receive it.
- Low awareness, limited training, and insufficient infrastructure cause this gap.
- Most services are urban-centric, leaving rural and poor populations without support.
Major Challenges:
- Shortage of trained professionals – few doctors and nurses specialise in palliative care.
- Inadequate funding – public health spending does not prioritise palliative services.
- Poor infrastructure – limited availability in primary and almost no presence in tertiary hospitals.
- Lack of awareness – many people associate palliative care only with death, ignoring its broader benefits.
Need for Policy and Education Integration:
- Include palliative care in MBBS curriculum to prepare doctors with required skills and empathy.
- Promote task-sharing with trained nurses and health workers for wider reach.
- Use India’s large pool of 34 lakh nurses and 13 lakh allied workers to deliver basic palliative services.
Financial and Institutional Support Needed:
- Allocate dedicated government funds for palliative services.
- Expand coverage of Ayushman Bharat and other insurance schemes to include palliative care.
- Partner with NGOs and private hospitals to expand access in underserved regions.
Creating Public Awareness:
- Campaigns to educate families that palliative care is not just for dying patients but supports those with chronic conditions.
- Promotes early access, reduces stigma, and helps people live with dignity.
Learning from Global Models:
- U.S. system shows how strong funding and insurance improve end-of-life care.
- India can adapt such models to fit its own needs and resource limits.
Conclusion:
India’s multilingual culture is a core strength that must be preserved. Government efforts in education, digital access, and policy support are key to safeguarding linguistic diversity.
