Palliative Care introduced at district hospital

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

From Monday, palliative care services will be available at the District civil hospital with a dedicated 10-bed ward. The service will also extend to sub-district and rural hospitals to help relieve the suffering of patients with serious illnesses.

A district palliative care committee has been formed under district surgeon Dr Kamalakar Mudkhedkar, following state guidelines. A meeting was held at the hospital on Saturday, attended by district health officer Dr Abhay Dhanorkar, Dr Prashant Bade, and others. The program will provide village-level patients, including bedridden cases, with health counselling, home care, referral services, and follow-up support for both patients and families. Patient data will first be collected to ensure tailored healthcare services. The District Hospital will have 10 dedicated beds, while sub-district and rural hospitals will have 2 each. Specialist doctors will provide inpatient care, weekly outpatient services, and other essential health support.

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What is palliative care?

Commonly misunderstood as treatment only after all other medical interventions have ended, palliative care is in fact provided alongside treatments after diagnosis to ensure patient comfort and relief.

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Who is it for?

• Cancer patients

• End-stage kidney or liver disease

• Heart disease

• Neurological disorders

• Serious illnesses in elderly patients

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Services included

• Pain management medication

• Nutritional advice

• Psychological counselling

• Nursing care

• Home care guidance