Pallium India
Care Beyond Cure
* ~~~~~~~~ *
! May 2018 !
* ~~~~~~~~ *
https://palliumindia.org/?p=7584
May 1, 2018
BAD NEWS: CONTROL ON TRAMADOL.
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/BAD-NEWS-CONTROL-ON-TRAMADOL/]
Tramadol has been brought under Schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics
Rules, 1945. It is the same list that has buprenorphine. It also has other
drugs like Alprazolam, Zolpidem (which are in the NDPS Act).
The peculiar problem with Buprenorphine tablets is the condition
imposed by the Drugs Controller General of India that it should only be
available in select deaddiction centres. If a similar condition is imposed on
Tramadol (like only select hospitals or pain centres), its availability can
become a huge problem.
Even otherwise, bringing Tramadol under the NDPS Act is likely to have
a chilling effect on its medical use.
–
OBITUARY: WILFRID BRUCE DAVIS MBE
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/OBITUARY-WILFRID-BRUCE-DAVIS-MBE/]
_Dr M. R. Rajagopal writes:_
Our dear friend Bruce Davis MBE is no more.
Many palliative care activists like me, who have considered him a dear
friend and benefactor, feel the pain of having a part of our very being taken
away. Millions of people who have never known him have lost a friend whom they
never knew.
Wilfrid Bruce Davis was born in England in 1925 into a family of
businessmen and had to live with the suffering of several people with cancer in
his family. On retirement, out of all his personal suffering, he made something
beautiful happen. The trust that he founded, Wilfrid Bruce Davis Trust, started
helping people who needed palliative care. His charitable arms extended across
the length and breadth of India, from Guwahati Pain and Palliative Care Society
in Assam in the North-East, to Kerala in the South-West. He funded educational
efforts all over the country through the late Ms Val Hunkin and in many other
ways, and helped palliative care organisations to build and grow in quantity as
well as in quality.
When we had secured land from the Government of Kerala to build the
Institute of Palliative Medicine
[http://www.instituteofpalliativemedicine.org/] at Calicut, he took it on ;
himself to fund the whole project. An almost-shy person, he never liked the
limelight. It was a matter of profound joy for us when he took part in the
opening of the Institute of Palliative Medicine in January 2003. When later,
some of us got together to create Pallium India for nationwide activities, he
continued to support us.
His loving wife Dodo and he loved sailing. When they eventually sold
their sailing boat which they had had for 32 years, the proceeds came to us to
establish Pallium India’s Bruce Davis Training Centre. Since then, whenever I
welcomed the participants of any course, I always started by introducing Bruce
Davis to them. Both his picture and the picture of that sailing boat will
continue to adorn the wall of our classroom.
Dear Dodo and family, a lot of us, his friends on the other side of the
globe, share your pain and wish you strength to cope with the loss. And we
shall continue our mission which we know was close to his heart.
–
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ANDHRA PRADESH:
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/SIGNIFICANT-PROGRESS-IN-ANDHRA-PRADESH/]
_In 2017, Pallium India entered into a partnership with Age care
foundation in Vizag
[http://palliumindia.org/2017/08/sneha-sandhya-age-care-foundation-and-an-initiative-in-andhra-pradesh/]
to initiate a statewide activity in Andhra Pradesh to promote access to
palliative care, Dr N S Raju and Dr Vidya Vishwanath taking the lead._
_They report of recent progress:_
"
“Akshaya Trithiya on the 18th of April 2018 shone brightly for
palliative care in Visakhapatnam! Sneha Sandhya Age Care Foundation and Two
Worlds Cancer Collaborative supported by Pain and Palliative Care Services
(Hyderabad) came together for a dedicated palliative care home care service
with Dr Gayatri Palat making her third visit to the city. Incidentally, her
first visit was to inaugurate the first hospice in the city, the second was to
initiate the first IAPC Training in the State and her third was to participate
in this Home Care Service inauguration of which was done by Dr Jitendra Sharma
MDc and CEO of AP MedTec also known as the Med Tech Man of India. He is the
architect for Universal Health Coverage for the State of Andhra Pradesh and the
Adviser for Health to the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
A lively and very positive interaction followed regarding the need and
urgency for a state policy in palliative care. The policy draft sent by Pallium
India had been sent to him and there was a discussion about Private – Public
Partnership and the need to involve NGOs for the implementation. Dr Gayatri
said, “I wondered if I was travelling this far to inaugurate a van; but now I
see this as a milestone and am proud to be part of this movement in
Visakhapatnam!”
And may we add that our energy and enthusiasm are sustained because the
catalysts and the driving force for the palliative care movement in
Visakhapatnam are the stalwarts in medical oncology and palliative care, Dr D
Raghunadharao and Pallium India! We are so very grateful for all this support.”
_(Photo: Dr Jitendar Sharma explaining the Government’s plans to launch
Palliative care services in all districts of AP)_"
–
SEATTLE SAPTASWARA – MUSIC OF COMPASSION
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/SEATTLE-SAPTASWARA-MUSIC-OF-COMPASSION/]
Care and Share in Seattle joins “Saptaswara” to organise a musical
event every year. This year the event was held at Kirkland performance Centre
on 07 April, 2018.
It is many years since, thanks to an introduction by Dr Philomina
Thuruthumaly, Pallium India has had this association with Mr Tony Devassy and
Mr Ashley Elenjikkal of Care and Share, a non-profit organisation based in
Seattle, USA. And they have continued to support us through the years.
For the first time, representatives of Pallium India were fortunate to
attend the Ganolsavam this year. What energy! What enthusiasm! Indeed it was a
privilege!
We cannot possibly thank each person enough for the warm hospitality
and for the compassion.
The proceeds from the musical event will come to the famous charitable
organisation Solace and also to Pallium India.
–
“HIPPOCRATIC” SCREENED IN CANADA AND THE US
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/HIPPOCRATIC-SCREENED-IN-CANADA-AND-THE-US/]
_ Hippocratic: 18 Experiments in gently shaking the world
[http://hippocraticfilm.com] _ was screened in many North American cities ;
during the months of March and April 2018 – Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, Victoria
and Vancouver in Canada and in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Boston,
Columbus (Ohio), San Jose, San Francisco, San Diego, Houston (Texas) and
Atlanta in USA.
Mike Hill and Sue Collins, the producers of the movie, attended the
screenings in California. We are glad that they were able to be there on that
leg of the journey to see how warmly the movie was received. We were unable to
count the faces with tears rolling down their eyes, or the number of people who
came and said how inspiring the movie was. Indeed, “life-changing experience”
was the phrase used by several.
We are full of gratitude for the numerous palliative care teams in all
the cities for welcoming the _Hippocratic_ group and making us part of you.
And dear Mike Hill and Sue Collins, we cannot congratulate you enough
or thank you enough.
_TO SEE THE FILM, VISIT THIS PAGE: HTTP://HIPPOCRATICFILM.COM/SEE-THE-FILM/
[HTTP://HIPPOCRATICFILM.COM/SEE-THE-FILM/] _
–
ASHLA RANI’S VISIT TO CALIFORNIA
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/ASHLA-RANIS-VISIT-TO-CALIFORNIA/]
Pallium India’s friend Sara Schear took the initiative to start a
crowdfunding campaign to organise Ashla Rani’s travel to California so that she
could meet and interact with luminaries like B J Miller and Dr. Grace Dammann.
We were indeed overcome by the warmth with which the world received the
crowd-funding request. How can we thank the numerous individuals who came
forward to help us in this fashion! Mary Gauwitz certainly heads the list with
her generosity! How can we forget the frenetic enthusiasm and contribution of
Dr Jan Stjernsward, former chief of cancer and palliative care at World Health
Organisation and the immediate and warm reaction and contribution of Dr Yusuf
Hamied!
No; these words are not enough. Everyone who helped, please forgive us
for not mentioning each by name. But many of us have a thankful prayer for each
of you in our hearts.
–
PALLIATIVE CARE: A SILENT, SLOW-EVOLVING REVOLUTION IN INDIA
[HTTP://WWW.INDIAWEST.COM/LETTERS_TO_EDITOR/PALLIATIVE-CARE-SILENT-SLOW-EVOLVING-REVOLUTION-IN-INDIA/ARTICLE_A4BA414C-44F8-11E8-9A48-F70EEA4B8D10.HTML]
Dr M. R. Rajagopal writes in IndiaWest.com
[http://www.indiawest.com/letters_to_editor/palliative-care-silent-slow-evolving-revolution-in-india/article_a4ba414c-44f8-11e8-9a48-f70eea4b8d10.html]
: "
Recently, I spent an hour with a group of resident doctors and public
health graduates. With World Health Day on April 7, our discussion naturally
centered around health.
The conclusion: The world’s healthcare system does not provide true
healthcare. Or teach it. It provides disease-focused treatment, diagnosis and
cure. A bit of disease prevention on the side. And if cure is not possible,
patients are told, “Sorry; there is nothing more we can do; go home.” In such a
situation, going home often means receiving no support at all from the medical
system, except in the form of half-hearted prescriptions for medications.
When a bed-bound, poor patient is sent away from curative treatment,
how much effort goes into teaching the patient and family about preventing of
suffering? Pressure sores can kill, through a slow, painful process.
Constipation and urinary infections can cause untold suffering.
I told the young doctors why we provide this almost-irrational system
of care which focuses only on diagnosis and cure: It is convenient for the
medical system. We have the technology to delve deep into human bodies and
diagnose and destroy diseases. Yes, in many cases, that is an incredible gift.
But what about the consequences for the person as a whole?
Read more ->
[http://www.indiawest.com/letters_to_editor/palliative-care-silent-slow-evolving-revolution-in-india/article_a4ba414c-44f8-11e8-9a48-f70eea4b8d10.html]
"
–
CONGRATULATIONS, DR SURESH REDDY AND TEAM!
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/03/CONGRATULATIONS-DR-SURESH-REDDY-AND-TEAM/]
[https://palliumindia.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Poster-Award-in-Boston.jpg]
Some people and some initiatives bring you strength, when you need it
most. Under Dr Suresh Reddy’s leadership, Indo-American Cancer Association
(IACA) took it on themselves to support educational initiatives in palliative
care in India. They worked on the curriculum, made it more robust, particularly
strengthening the evaluation, and raised funds to support scholarships for
palliative care champions from all over the country to participate in
educational programs in several locations in India. The poster reporting it won
an award at the annual conference of the American Academy of Hospice and
Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) in Boston, on March 17, 2018.
CONGRATULATIONS, DR SURESH REDDY AND TEAM. PALLIUM INDIA IS PROUD TO PARTNER
WITH YOU.
–
FOOD FESTIVAL AT TECHNOPARK, TRIVANDRUM
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/FOOD-FESTIVAL-AT-TECHNOPARK-TRIVANDRUM/]
A JOINT INITIATIVE OF PALLIUM INDIA AND PRATHIDHWANI
As a fund-raising exercise for Kuttikoottam 2018
[http://palliumindia.org/2018/03/kuttikkoottam-summer-camp-2018-please-donate/] ;
(summer camp for children who are provided educational support by Pallium
India) held from April 19 to 21, Pallium India organized a food festival at
“Bhavani” in Technopark, Trivandrum. This was supported by “Prathidhwani”, the
social service club of employees of various organizations in Technopark. This
was an initiative by volunteers of Pallium India who prepared the food in their
homes and also catered the same at the venue.
The festival opened at 10 a.m. with a trickle of visitors that kept
increasing and peaked at 1 p.m. On display were 18 mouth-watering meal items, 9
snacks items, 5 juice items and 4 payasams that delighted not only Malayalis
but also non-Malayalis. Our only regret is that our limitations on sourcing
larger volumes of food left a few of our visitors disappointed. To them, our
sincere apologies.
The festival ended at 2 p.m. and was a grand success. Thanks to the
sensitized crowd of young techies who came in droves to help this great cause,
we raised ₹65,000. We would also like to thank Prathidhwani, without whose
support this event would not have taken place.
–
DR RAJAGOPAL RECEIVES PADMA SHRI FROM THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/DR-RAJAGOPAL-RECEIVES-PADMA-SHRI-FROM-THE-PRESIDENT-OF-INDIA/]
In an event held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on April 2, Dr M. R.
Rajagopal, Chairman of Pallium India, received the Padma Shri award from the
Honorable President of India, Ram Nath Kovind.
–
DANCING, SINGING AND LEARNING AT THE SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN
Kuttikkoottam summer camp for children
[http://palliumindia.org/2018/03/kuttikkoottam-summer-camp-2018-please-donate/] ;
was conducted at Mitra Niketan City Centre, Trivandrum, from 19 to 21 April,
2018. The program was inaugurated by Dr. Mohammed Asheel, Executive Director of
Kerala Social Security Mission.
The three-day camp focussed on providing knowledge interspersed with
fun. The participants got the opportunity to meet several interesting people
from different walks of life, who shared their own experiences and learning.
The children learned art and craft, danced, sang and watched movies together.
They went for a short half-day picnic. They also attended a career guidance
program aimed at helping them choose their path forward. At the end of the
camp, the children parted ways, promising to meet again soon, for “parting is
such sweet sorrow”…
_CHILDREN’S EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM: Pallium India currently
supports the education of over 350 children. Many of them had been on the verge
of dropping out of school, after their families were ravaged by illness or
death, and they were financially destroyed. Thanks to constant support from our
well-wishers, Pallium India has been able to keep their education
uninterrupted, as much as possible. If you wish to help, please donate to us:
http://palliumindia.org/donate/ [http://palliumindia.org/donate/] _ ;
–
PALLIATIVE CARE IS ALL ABOUT TEAMWORK
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/PALLIATIVE-CARE-IS-ALL-ABOUT-TEAMWORK/]
_Sherin Wilfred, Medical Social Worker at Pallium India, writes:_ "
On 24 March 2018, during our home visit to Murukkumpuzha, we visited Mr
Purushothaman (75 years), who has old age issues. He has weakness in his lower
limbs, is unable to walk and needs help for his daily needs.
Our team noticed that the patient was left alone in the house. One of
his daughters visits him in the morning and provides food for him. When we
reached his home around 10:30 a.m., he was lying on the floor on a mat, and was
soaked in urine. There were ants crawling around him and he had wounds between
his toes from ant-bite. We cleaned the patient and swept the floor, and cleaned
his wounds. A soft mattress was provided for him.
Meanwhile, we tried to get help from the neighbors. We informed Mr.
Francis Ernest (community volunteer) regarding the patient’s condition. As part
of the intervention, he contacted the Ezhava community group. With the help of
the group members, the patient was transferred from Trivandrum to Bangalore to
be with his eldest daughter.
I believe this was a great teamwork in improving the quality of life of
this patient. This was possible with the strongest support of our volunteers
and the palliative care team – Dr. Sathyasheelan, Sr Seena, Mr. Sujin
(volunteer), Mr. Rajeev and myself."
–
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TO HELP GEETHA!
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/THANK-YOU-FOR-JOINING-US-TO-HELP-GEETHA/]
Yes, indeed, we were able to make this year very special for Geetha.
Geetha’s news was published on our website
[http://palliumindia.org/2017/12/january-2018/] on New Year’s eve, seeking ;
support. Now, 57-year old Geetha is living in a modified house which is
wheelchair-friendly. She has a motorized wheelchair to move around. The
housewarming function was attended by her relatives and friends as well as
Pallium India team.
We owe the entire credit of her smiling face to MaChaNi group of
friends from Seattle, Kerala Association of Washington, well-wishers who
donated for the cause and volunteers. Thank you, everyone who came forward to
support.
–
VIDEO OF THE MONTH: MEET ARIF [HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=KGBLH5_YQIA]
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGbLH5_YqiA] ;
THE BETTER INDIA: PALLIUM INDIA – A POSITIVE STORY
–
[HTTPS://SMILE.AMAZON.COM/CH/47-4504650] SUPPORT PALLIUM INDIA INC BY SHOPPING
AT AMAZON SMILE! [HTTPS://SMILE.AMAZON.COM/CH/47-4504650]
When you shop at AmazonSmile, Amazon will make a donation to Pallium
India Inc.
Support us every time you shop!
https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4504650 ;
[https://smile.amazon.com/ch/47-4504650] ;
–
DONATE TO PALLIUM INDIA [HTTP://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/DONATE]
The money you give will pay for essential free medicines for the poor,
for their travel to the clinic or for schooling of their children, or other
forms of care.
PLEASE GIVE WHATEVER YOU CAN. NO AMOUNT IS TOO SMALL.
To donate, please visit:
* http://palliumindia.org/donate/ [http://palliumindia.org/donate/] ;
(India)
* http://palliumindiausa.org/ [http://palliumindiausa.org/] ;(USA)
* Write to us: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
* Call us: +91-9746745497 (India) / +1-718-273-8597 (USA)
_ All donations to Pallium India are tax deductible._
–
UPCOMING EVENTS [HTTP://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/COURSES/]
* MAY 30, 2018: 3rd ICPCN Conference, Durban, South Africa. Visit:
http://www.icpcnconference.org/ [http://www.icpcnconference.org/] ;
* JUN 4, 2018: 6 weeks certificate course in palliative medicine and
nursing (CCPPM, CCPN) at Trivandrum. Register: http://palliumindia.org/courses/ ;
[http://palliumindia.org/courses/] Contact: education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
[mailto:education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] / 8589998760. Last date to apply: May 22 ;
* JUL 23, 2018: 10-day Foundation course
[http://palliumindia.org/courses/foundation] for doctors at Trivandrum. ;
Contact: education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] / ;
8589998760. Last date to apply: Jul 10
* AUG 8, 2018: 10-day Foundation course
[http://palliumindia.org/courses/foundation] for doctors at Trivandrum. ;
Contact: education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] / ;
8589998760. Last date to apply: Jul 26
* SEP 3, 2018: 6 weeks certificate course in palliative medicine and
nursing (CCPPM, CCPN) at Trivandrum. Register: http://palliumindia.org/courses/ ;
[http://palliumindia.org/courses/] Contact: education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
[mailto:education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] / 8589998760. Last date to apply: Aug 21 ;
* NOV 5, 2018: 6 weeks certificate course in palliative medicine and
nursing (CCPPM, CCPN) at Trivandrum. Register: http://palliumindia.org/courses/ ;
[http://palliumindia.org/courses/] Contact: education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ;
[mailto:education@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] / 8589998760. Last date to apply: Oct 23 ;
* DEC 7-8, 2018: 14th World Congress of Bioethics and 7th National
Bioethics Conference
[http://ijme.in/nbc-20140321/index.php/14th-wcb-india/index/pages/view/home-page]
. Venue: St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka
560034. Last date to submit abstracts: Sunday, April 8, 2018. Pre-conference
workshop on December 3-4, 2018.
Have Queries? Contact: info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] . ;
Find out more about our courses at: HTTP://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/COURSES/
[HTTP://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/COURSES/]
–
JOIN OUR FACEBOOK PAGE [HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PALLIUMINDIA]
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We regularly post articles related to palliative care from around the
world.
CLICK HERE TO LIKE OUR PAGE [HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/PALLIUMINDIA] !
We’re also on Twitter: @palliumindia [https://twitter.com/palliumindia] ;
–
PALLIATIVE CARE INFORMATION CENTRE [HTTP://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/INFO-CENTRE]
Contact Pallium India’s Information Centre (9 am to 12 noon) for
information related to palliative care and about establishments where such
facilities are available in India. Telephone: +91-9746745497 or E-mail:
info@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Address: Pallium India, Arumana Hospital, Perunthanni, Trivandrum
For more details, please visit: http://palliumindia.org/info-centre/ ;
[http://palliumindia.org/info-centre/] ;
–
PARTING SHOT
SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME?
[HTTPS://PALLIUMINDIA.ORG/2018/04/SHAPE-OF-THINGS-TO-COME/]
This robot is a member of the staff of a pharmacy in MD Anderson Cancer
Centre, Houston, Texas.
He (or she?) delivers medicines from ward to ward, can operate the
elevator and can negotiate through crowded corridors.
Why do we post this here? Because there is food for thought: most of us
are unable even to imagine the way technology will develop in another five or
ten years. In many ways, technology will improve our efficiency. It may also
potentially threaten the _human_ element in medicine.
Let us brace ourselves, and think hard on how we can optimise the
positives of technology, while minimising the negatives.
