x

Like our Facebook Page

   
Early Times Newspaper Jammu, Leading Newspaper Jammu
 
Breaking News :   Wealth getting concentrated in hands of some rich: Gadkari | Srinagar records highest July temperature at 37.4 degrees | Satish Sharma monitors Shri Amarnathji Yatra convoy accident; ensures swift relief, medical response | Ensure quick resolution of public complaints: CM Yogi | DM visits Pargwal, reviews functioning of Revenue Department | Sakeena Itoo visits Nadimarg area | Waqf employees felicitate Dr Andrabi | Ajaz Jan visits District Hospital Poonch to Review Doctor Quarters, Identify Sites for Hospital Bunkers | Danger Looms in Udhampur: Unprotected Transformers Spark Safety Concerns | Sat Sharma releases "Raidass Vandana" aarti dedicated to Guru Ravidass | Kavinder meets former Jaipur Mayors, urges to join Amarnath Yatra | AIIMS Jammu Launches Neurosurgical Operative Services with Brain Tumor Surgery | Illegal structures used for bovine dumping demolished in Khanpura | I Hope To Live For 30-40 Years more: Dalai Lama | Election Commission holding regular dialogue with parties | Himachal becomes first state to launch Aadhaar-based face authentication | Interpretation Of Law, Constitution Has To Be Pragmatic: CJI Gavai | Rotary Club Jammu Elite celebrates Annapurna Day with Spirit of Service | 3 theft cases solved; 6 accused arrested | Director Forest Protection Force starts plantation drive | Two tractors seized for illegal mining | Javid Dar visits Nunwan base camp; inaugurates Waste Management facility | Bovine smuggling bid foiled; 5 bovines rescued | Railway Protection Force Bhopal takes swift action, accused arrested | 3-day Shri Sarthal Devi Ji Yatra culminates with Grand Shobha Yatra, Maha Yagya | SMVD Narayana Hospital performs Bilateral Knee Replacements in 88 years old patients | Doda police reunites mentally unsound person with his family | Free medical check-up camp organized | Directorate of Ayush mourns sad demise of Dr Tahir Mufti | 84 Bn CRPF helped in rescuing injured pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra | Renowned Heart Surgeon Dr Pankaj Goel joins Amandeep Group of Hospitals | Director Agriculture inaugurates Commercial Vermicompost Unit under HADP | Ravinder leads Congress protest in Sunderbani against SCARD bank , discrimination in road projects | Century of Sangh: RSS plans major outreach in J&K during Shatabdi celebrations | GOC interacts with veterans | Implement comprehensive safety measures for vehicles of pilgrims: LG Sinha to officers | 36 devotees sustain minor injuries after 5 buses collide in Ramban | ‘Op Sindoor Impact’: Bilawal Bhutto signals Pak’s willingness to hand over dreaded terrorists to India | Vijay Khanmotra elected Chairman Samba Photographers Union | CM Omar pays glowing tributes to Karbala martyrs | SIA files chargesheet in cross-border narco-terror case | Udhampur police seized 9 vehicles | Indian Army concludes Self Defense Training Workshop at Mendhar | Police register case over attempt to provoke unrest | Samba police seizes 4 dumpers for illegal mining | Nagrad deferred election | Decision on summer vacation extension today: Sakina Itoo | J&K Police attaches property | VC JU releases book “Happy Schools” emphasizing emotional well-being as core to education | ABRSM declares Kuldeep Kumar as new President of Zone Jourian | Parkash Purab of Sri Guru Hargobind Sahib Ji Celebrated with Devotion | NC felicitates newly appointed Additional Spokespersons | DBU hosts FDP on emerging AI tools for Agriculture Scientists and Educators | Sunil Dimple demands bill for restoration of Dogra State | MCM celebrates Vanmahotsav with plantation drive under 'Ek Paed Maa ke Naam' | Children and parents in digital fasting may be away from these technical means | Temple of learning? | Preventing Zoonotic Diseases: A Shared Responsibility | Divine Grace in Sacred Himalayas | Back Issues  
 
news details
Palliative care in India
6/5/2020 11:40:14 PM

Dr. Aditya S. Pawar

Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being by definition. Doctors strive to keep their patients in a healthy state, but we learn that medicine has limitations. There are times when there are no interventions available to prolong the patient’s life. However even in those situations, a doctor’s responsibility never ceases. He offers most precious skill learned, which is to provide comfort, understanding the goals of the patient, helping them cope with their symptoms and provide support to the family and care givers. This is where palliative care comes in; focusing on relief from the symptoms and helping patients understand a serious illness with overall goal to improve quality of life for both the patient and their families.
Palliative care is a team-based approach for people with serious illness and helps address emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of life. It’s a philosophy that patient care does not only include medical care but an overall holistic approach in patient’s well-being. The goal is to provide comfort to patient and help them live with their illness. Studies have shown that, with palliative care, patients with serious illness live longer and have better quality of life.
The concept of palliative care is not new in India; however, it’s far from reaching its full potential yet. Multiple obstacles in the growth of palliative care exist for example our growing population, poverty, and geographical diversity, restrictive policies with medication, workforce development, national palliative care policy and lack of institutional interest. In 2015, global league in access to end-of-life ranked India at 67th position out of 80 countries. Despite challenges; need and provision of palliative care continues to grow and has potential to grow further by increasing awareness among physician and patients. Every physician must acquire skills of palliative care to improve communication with patient and their families. Not only this improves patient satisfaction but helps physicians in forming long term relationships with their patients.
There is a robust need for introducing palliative care in MBBS curriculum so that doctors are able to learn early in their career. It teaches how to lead communication with families and patients regarding their goals of care and end of life wishes. Patients can continue to receive palliative care while they simultaneously receive medical care for their illness. Palliative care providers work closely with patients, primary care provider and other team members such as cardiologist, oncologist or any other specialty. Symptoms such as pain, constipation, nausea, anxiety, trouble sleeping, depression, fatigue, emotional distress, loss of appetite, spiritual questions, breathing problems can have significant distress on patients and are important to address. The alleviation of symptoms helps patient gain strength to carry on with their daily life. It improves their ability to handle medical treatments. This leads to informed decision making as it helps patients think clearly without symptom burden. Medical conditions such as cancer, cardiac disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney disease, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are examples where palliative care may be beneficial. Example of services supported by palliative team can include but not limited to palliative radiation and surgery, medication for pain management, nerve blocks to decrease pain, breathing and relaxation exercises, and acupuncture to help lower anxiety or pain.
A palliative care team consists of a specialist such as a physician, nurse, and social worker. Their working is different from hospice as patients who qualify for hospice are generally with medical condition with life expectancy less than 6 months. Palliative care can begin as soon as diagnosis is made with serious illness. It helps people of any age, at any stage of disease or condition. This includes people who are still receiving medical care that could cure their conditions.
We are blessed that our society and culture provides strong social support to patients. With the addition of palliative care, the quality of life of patients can be improved further. Helping patients and families in time of their suffering is the paramount duty of health care providers. In March 2019, Jammu and Kashmir got its first center for palliative care program and treatment of cancer, which is a welcome step. Looking ahead, we have a long way to go to increase use of palliative care especially in Jammu and Kashmir, as they demand is far more than supply at present. We need to increase access and develop policies that provide guidelines for palliative care access to patients and physicians. It needs to be integrated with medical care with support of hospice programs.
  Share This News with Your Friends on Social Network  
  Comment on this Story  
 
 
 
Early Times Android App
STOCK UPDATE
  
BSE Sensex
NSE Nifty
 
CRICKET UPDATE
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Home About Us Top Stories Local News National News Sports News Opinion Editorial ET Cetra Advertise with Us ET E-paper
 
 
J&K RELATED WEBSITES
J&K Govt. Official website
Jammu Kashmir Tourism
JKTDC
Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board
Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board
Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board
UTILITY
Train Enquiry
IRCTC
Matavaishnodevi
BSNL
Jammu Kashmir Bank
State Bank of India
PUBLIC INTEREST
Passport Department
Income Tax Department
JK CAMPA
JK GAD
IT Education
Web Site Design Services
EDUCATION
Jammu University
Jammu University Results
JKBOSE
Kashmir University
IGNOU Jammu Center
SMVDU