Foundation Course in Palliative Care for Doctors

Sanjeevan organised a one-day training on palliative care for doctors and other healthcare professionals.  The objective of this training was to spread awareness of palliative care among PHC (Primary Health Center) doctors and to spend time with palliative patients in and around their respective PHCs.

The Director of IGMC and Dr Jaya Ramesh from Sanjeevan palliative care inaugurated the programme by lightening the lamp and watering the plants.

Dame Cicely Saunders, a nurse, social worker and doctor to provide compassionate care to the dying with incurable illnesses, gave a detailed lecture about palliative care, its history and its philosophy.

The main topics of discussion were the three components of palliative care – Disease management, symptom control and psychosocial care.

Activities were conducted that emphasised the need for excellent communication skills between the patients and the doctors.

Some doctors shared their experiences dealing with palliative care patients. 

Dr Mohan Raja from Sanjeevan explained the role played by Sanjeevan in palliative care.  He highlighted the challenges the doctors would face while dealing with palliative care patients and the community.  He stressed the importance of having a palliative care wing in all the PHCs. Sanjeevan’s team also encouraged the doctors to work as volunteers, which will improve the quality of palliative patients’ lives.

The sessions were facilitated by Dr Abu Sendhil, Dr Prakash, Dr V. Uma Shankar, Dr Gajaraj, and Dr Adhi Narayan.  Around 30 doctors from several primary health centres took part in this one-day training.