Now, palliative care at home for terminally ill, cancer patients in HP

Shimla: Himachal Pradesh chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Wednesday flagged off a vehicle carrying a dedicated team of medical professionals with the aim of delivering home-based palliative care to cancer and other terminally ill individuals unable to visit hospitals.

This team includes a doctor trained in palliative care, a sociologist, and a nurse to provide compassionate care as part of the pain and palliative cell established under the department of radiotherapy and oncology at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMCH), Shimla. The state govt launched this initiative in collaboration with Cipla Foundation and CanSupport India.

The CM said medicines and dressing kits would be provided to patients free of cost. Initially, the service would cater to patients residing within a 40km radius of IGMCH. He said this initiative reflected govt's commitment to providing accessible and compassionate healthcare. The team would work in close consultation with physicians at IGMCH to address the medical needs of patients, he added.

Sukhu mentioned that beyond medical care, sociologists in the team would focus on meeting social and psychological needs of patients and ensure a holistic approach to their well-being. He added medicines and dressing kits would be provided to patients free of cost. The CM said this initiative was a significant step forward in providing specialised care for terminally ill patients and offering them essential support within the comfort of their homes. Rural development and panchayati raj minister Anirudh Singh and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.