Palliative care at MGM Hospital

Warangal: In what is termed as a significant development, specialist palliative care services that improve the quality of life of patients, who have serious or life-threatening diseases such as cancer, is now available in Warangal. Thanks to the joint initiative of the National Programme for Palliative Care (NPPC), and Pain Relief and Palliative Care Society (PRPCS) that resolved to provide specialist palliative care to the terminally ill.  

In fact, the palliative care is part of medical system in developed countries. Although it was first introduced in Kerala, it took not much time for the Telangana to become the leading State in the country in providing the best palliative care facilities.

The palliative care centre opened on the premises of MGM Hospital in Warangal on Monday is the eighth one in the State. Prior to the health authorities’ resolve to decentralise the palliative care in districts, MNJ Cancer Hospital was the only research institute in the State to have such a facility. 

With the NPPC coming forward to provide funds for the palliative care facilities, the authorities collaborated with the PRPCS to set up the centres.
It may be mentioned here that PRPCS is an organisation which is aimed at improving the quality of life of patients with life-limiting illnesses like cancer, advanced AIDS, lung, heart and kidney diseases.

According to PRPCS, about 2 lakh people in two Telugu-speaking States – Telangana and Andhra Pradesh - are diagnosed to have cancer. About 70 per cent are diagnosed as having advanced cancer and need pain relief and palliative care. This apart, there are above 5 lakh people living with HIV/AIDS and around 50-70 per cent of them would benefit palliative care.

Against this backdrop, the MGM Hospital has provided space for the PRPCS to set up eight-bedded palliative care. The centre which is managed by the PRPCS is said to be huge relief for the patients of the region.

Speaking to The Hans India, Dr C Shiva Prasad, a trained Palliative Care Physician, said: “The facility will take care of those patients terminally ill. We will take care of issues such as physical, emotional and coping, spiritual etc taking individual’s specific needs into care.”

The main aim of the palliative care centres is to prevent and relieve suffering and promote quality of life, he said, referring to the trauma of the patients and their relatives. The authorities have plans to expand the eight-bedded facility. It may be mentioned here that all the beds were occupied on the first day itself after the facility was inaugurated by Warangal Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil on Monday.