ICMR to roll out multi-state study to expand palliative care access | India News
New Delhi: With less than 1% of patients in India requiring palliative care, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is set to launch a multi-state implementation study to develop and scale services across the public health system.Palliative care – focused on relieving pain and improving quality of life for patients with terminal illnesses such as cancer, neurological disorders and advanced chronic conditions – remains out of reach for most Indians.The need, however, is sufficient. The study estimates that 6.21 people need palliative care per 1,000 people in India, with demand higher in rural areas and among the elderly. Globally, 56.8 million people need such care each year, most of them in low- and middle-income countries.Experts warn that the burden is set to rise rapidly. The World Health Organization projects an 87% increase in serious health-related suffering by 2060, due to an aging population and an increase in non-communicable diseases.Nevertheless, access in India remains among the lowest globally, with gaps driven by a shortage of trained personnel, limited services at the grassroots level, regulatory barriers and poor integration into the healthcare system.For families, the impact is severe. Lack of access often leads to high out-of-pocket costs and significant caregiver burden, especially for patients requiring long-term or home-based care.The proposed study aims to develop and test scalable palliative care models across district hospitals, community health centers, primary health centers and home-based settings, covering patients across age groups and illnesses.It will evaluate whether integrating palliative care into routine health services can improve coverage, reduce symptom burden, reduce hospitalization rates, and reduce costs for families.ICMR has invited research groups to participate in the study, with the selected groups expected to work with state governments and ICMR to design and implement the model.Public health experts say the initiative could mark a turning point. If scaled up effectively, this could help ensure that patients not only live longer but suffer less.
