Shillong, Sep 14: The North East Regional Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) was formally inaugurated on September 12, marking a step towards strengthening collaboration and access to palliative care across the eight Northeastern states.
The event brought together professionals, institutions, academicians and community organisations from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura under a common platform.
A day-long academic programme and leadership meeting was held at the PA Sangma Medical College & Hospital, Meghalaya.
A key highlight was the panel discussion on “Building a Sustainable Palliative Care Ecosystem in Northeast India: Capacity, Community, Institutions and Social Investment,” moderated by National Secretary IAPC Dr Sanghamitra Bora. Panelists included Dr Raj Prabha Moktan, Dr Geeta Joshi, Prof Anuradha Deuri of Gauhati Medical College and Nodal Officer, Regional Geriatric Centre, Dr Nihar Ranjan Biswas, Professor & Head Pharmacology, ESIC Medical College & Hospital Beltola, Dr Dinesh Goswami, President Assam State Chapter IAPC and Dr Neignevah Haokip, In-charge Palliative Medicine, Dr B Barooah Cancer Institute.
Leadership deliberations identified priorities including mapping existing services and workforce, strengthening competencies, building institutional and government partnerships, increasing public awareness and developing sustainable financing.
A key advocacy priority will be financial protection for home-based palliative care, given difficult terrain, long travel distances and uneven healthcare access in the Northeast.
Dr Raj Prabha Moktan, Director, Regional Resource Centre for North East, a branch of National Health Systems Resource Centre, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, inaugurated the event as chief guest in presence of Dr Geeta Joshi, National President, IAPC.
