Samba, Jan 31: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the 32nd International Conference of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) at AIIMS Jammu, with over 800 national and international delegates in attendance. The three-day conference, organized by the IAPC J&K Chapter and AIIMS Jammu, aims to foster advancements and innovations in palliative care to improve the quality of life for patients diagnosed with terminal illnesses.
In his keynote address, the Lieutenant Governor emphasized the importance of keeping Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) up-to-date and being sensitive to the needs of individuals with life-threatening diseases. He highlighted the need to alleviate pain and suffering while providing spiritual support to patients and their families.
He also urged the private sector to collaborate with the administration to establish palliative care centers in remote and underserved areas. “In J&K, the administration set up 10-bed state-of-the-art Palliative and Geriatric Care Wards in each district in 2022. Our goal is to bridge the urban-rural divide and bring medical and psychological support to people’s doorsteps,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor called for collaboration between healthcare professionals and the Indian Association of Palliative Care to promote multi-sectoral partnerships and develop a pool of trained caregivers. He stressed that healthcare professionals have a moral responsibility to reduce patients’ pain and suffering through innovative approaches to pain management and continuous training.
Additionally, he suggested the development of uniform SoPs for community awareness, palliative support, and pain management at the district level. “Palliative care is constantly evolving, and we need to work on a strategic framework and its effective implementation,” he said.
The Lieutenant Governor also highlighted the growing need for specialized services for the aging population. “By 2050, 20.8% of India’s population will be over 60 years old, and this calls for the development of a strong care economy to ensure healthy, dignified, and fulfilling lives for our elders,” he stated. He further recommended a comprehensive healthcare package that includes regular check-ups, geriatric care, mental health support, and palliative care.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor inaugurated the Radiotherapy Oncology and Operation Theatre Complex at AIIMS Jammu. He also launched the AIIMS Pain Policy and praised the institution’s vision of providing pain-free patient care.
The establishment of the Radiotherapy Oncology facility at AIIMS Jammu will eliminate the need for patients to travel long distances for radiation therapy, ensuring timely treatment within the region. The service will cater to the increasing number of cancer patients, offering advanced radiotherapy techniques and personalized treatment plans. Additionally, the Hospital-Based Cancer Registry, under ICMR’s National Cancer Data Project, has been initiated to support effective cancer care operations.
The new Operation Theatre Complex at AIIMS Jammu includes eight advanced operation theatres, four of which are integrated OTs with live surgical broadcasting for real-time training. The complex also features a Hybrid OT with MRI and CT scan technology for complex procedures like transplants and cochlear implants.
Dr. Shakti Kumar Gupta, Executive Director & CEO of AIIMS Jammu; Prof. Sushma Bhatnagar, President of the Indian Association of Palliative Care; Dr. Rohit Lahori, President of the IAPC J&K Chapter; and Dr. Sunana Gupta, Organising Secretary, along with senior officials, experts, and members of the medical community, were present at the event.
