1. Palliative Care in Kerala
Dr Suresh Kumar

2. Palliative Care in India
5.4 million people estimated to be in need
Advanced Cancer
Elderly dying
End stage systemic disease
AIDS
Less than 2% covered
Quality of Death Study by Economist Intelligence Group
India came as 40th in the 40 countries studied
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

3. Palliative Care in Kerala
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

4. Timeline of Palliative Care service development in Kerala
Confined to a small community
Start of Community Involvement
Involvement of Local Self Government Institutions
Non government Organization at Medical College Calicut, Kerala
30 projects started by Neighbourhood network in Northern Kerala
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

5. Neighborhood Network in Palliative Care: Community participation an integral part of care in Kerala
Network of trained volunteers in the community
Support system by trained professionals, institutions and organizations
Palliative care institutions as nodal centers
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

6. PC as Primary Health Care
Capacity building at the primary health care level
Training
Drugs and equipment
Provision for home based care
Integration between the primary health care and community owned services
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

7. Volunteers
Anyone who wants to contribute in the efforts to reduce the suffering of people living with advanced diseases
Structured training to be given to those who are willing to spend time with the patient
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

8. Palliative Care is everybody’s business
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

9. The Kerala Model: Government of Kerala’s Palliative Care Policy
Maximum coverage of palliative care services in Kerala
Development of services with community participation
Involve LSGIs in development of home based care
Incorporate palliative care in general health care field
NRHM Project in Palliative Care to facilitate implementation
Sensitization, Capacity building and advocacy at LSGI level
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

10. The Kerala Model: Target groups
Advanced Cancer
Irreversible stroke
End of life in old age
End stage systemic diseases (cardiac, respiratory, renal)
Chronic progressive neuromuscular disorders
AIDS
Irreversible head injury, spinal injury, paraplegia from accidents
Mental and physical incapacitation- especially children
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

11. Palliative Care in Kerala – Mile Stones
25 years old
Civil Society Organizations as the major player in the beginning
More than 200 Community Based initiatives in first 15 years
A few Local Government Institutions as supporters as early as 1998
Palliative Care Policy by Government of Kerala in 2008
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

12. The Kerala Model: Factors behind its success
Vibrant civil and political society
Support from civil society organizations, religious groups and political parties
Extensive newspaper audience with high literacy rate in Kerala
Media campaign to facilitate community participation
Openness of the program
Decentralized governance
Package of services (Total Care)
Edinburgh 2018 Nov

13. Thank you!! drsuresh.kumar@gmail.com
Edinburgh 2018 Nov