Palliative Care Workshops at ERA Medical College

Cancer Aid Society and Alpha Palliative Care Kerala organized 3 Days Palliative Care Workshops from July 2nd to 4th 2019 at ERA Medical College and ERA University for the Final Year Students of MBBS, Pharmacy, Lab Technicians and Physiotherapy. The workshop was Inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Dr Abbas Ali Mahdi who focused on the importance of the Palliative Care for benefit of the masses. As keynote speaker Dr. Anurag Agarwal Associate Prof. RML Institute of Medical Sciences focused on Pain Management, Dr. Shivani Rastogi from RMLIMS addressed the gathering telling them about Oral Morphine. Chairman of Alpha Palliative Care Mr. Noorden shared the success story of Kerala while from Cancer Aid Society Mrs. Neha Tripathi Director shared UP experience and lack of Palliative Care in the State, Dr. Piyush Gupta Secretary told about WHO Perspective and emphasized on increasing cost and decreasing quality of death. Mr. Mohd Khalid organized the workshop. A large no. of advance cancer patients die in excruciating pain in spite of the fact that Central Government has provided some funds which have not been used to improve palliative care in the State.

Cancer Aid Society gave a Thought for us:

Even the hardcore criminals who are sentenced to death are asked for their last wish which is fulfilled and they are given a painless death. It is indeed very unfortunate that in our country the patients who get a death warrant by Cancer have to suffer for months together in excruciating pain cursing themselves for none of the sins they have committed. Should they not be given freedom from acute pain as they pray for an early death to get rid of the pain. Yes they can ! says WHO by giving Oral Morphine. Then why do they suffer despite India being one of the largest producer of Morphine in the World.

Many states in India have no facility to dispense morphine, only 14 States/ UT are prescribing some morphine and have some palliative care services and have immense difficulties with morphine availability. < 3% cancer patients have access to adequate pain relief (Lancet 2001). Need of oral morphine in India is >2 million whereas <1% receive it. WHO says that Oral Morphine is non addictive and is the drug of choice for the Cancer Pain Management. Despite India’s heavy Cancer burden it consumes far less Morphine than most Countries where it has steadily increased. In India it has drastically come down to 10% since 1985 whereas it leads in supply of Opium to other Countries; while the Indian Patients die painful death.

What we aim to achieve?

Purpose of this workshop is to sensitize others that “there is always something which can be done” even to a terminally ill patient by integrating holistic Palliative Care i.e. Physical, Psychological, Social and Spiritual.
By incorporating all the above components we intend to “add LIFE into the Days, not just DAYS into the life”, of the patients suffering from Cancer by improving their “quality of life”. We all know that Palliative Care is the “CARE BEYOND CURE” or “CARING FOR THE UNCARED”.