Officials pose for a photo during the launch of the North East Regional Chapter at PA Sangma Medical College and Hospital, Meghalaya.
Shillong, September 14 (MExN): The North East Regional Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) was formally inaugurated on September 12, marking an effort to strengthen collaboration, capacity building and access to palliative care across the eight Northeastern states.
The chapter brings together palliative care professionals, healthcare institutions, academicians, community organisations and other stakeholders from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.
Dr Raj Prabha Moktan, Director, Regional Resource Centre for North East, a branch of the National Health Systems Resource Centre under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, inaugurated the chapter as chief guest in the presence of IAPC National President Dr Geeta Joshi.
The inauguration was preceded by a day-long academic programme and leadership meeting at PA Sangma Medical College and Hospital, Meghalaya, with representatives from all eight Northeastern states.
A key highlight was a panel discussion on "Building a Sustainable Palliative Care Ecosystem in Northeast India: Capacity, Community, Institutions and Social Investment", moderated by IAPC National Secretary Dr Sanghamitra Bora.
The panel included Dr Moktan, Dr Joshi, Dr Anuradha Deuri, Professor of Medicine, Gauhati Medical College and Nodal Officer, Regional Geriatric Centre; Dr Nihar Ranjan Biswas, Professor and Head, Pharmacology, ESIC Medical College and Hospital, Beltola; Dr Dinesh Goswami, President, Assam State Chapter of IAPC; and Dr Neignevah Haokip, In-Charge, Department of Palliative Medicine, Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute.
Leadership deliberations identified regional priorities including mapping existing services and workforce, strengthening palliative care competencies, building institutional and government partnerships, increasing public awareness and community participation, and developing sustainable financing mechanisms.
A key advocacy priority will be financial protection for home-based palliative care, as difficult terrain, long travel distances and uneven healthcare access can make repeated hospital visits challenging in the Northeast.
The chapter will support IAPC's broader efforts towards appropriate financing and coverage for palliative and home-based care.
Capacity building will follow a tiered approach, strengthening primary palliative care skills among doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals while developing specialist expertise, future trainers and regional leaders.
The chapter also identified public awareness and community engagement as major priorities. It will work with healthcare institutions, professional organisations and communities to improve understanding of palliative care, end-of-life care, advance care planning, advance directives and living wills.
The chapter aims to promote palliative care as an approach that relieves suffering, preserves dignity and improves quality of life for people living with serious illnesses and their families.
The executive committee has representation from all eight Northeastern states, with Dr Sanghamitra Bora of Assam as president, Dr Tashi Chotton of Arunachal Pradesh as honorary secretary and Rontu Sangma of Meghalaya as treasurer.
The committee also includes Sharique Hussain (Assam), Dr Nandan Chaudhary (Manipur), who additionally serves as academic coordinator, Dr Obangjungla (Nagaland), Dr Jacob Laibu (Mizoram), Dr Sangita Subba (Sikkim) and Dr Debalina Bhaumik (Tripura) as executive members.
