WHO SEARO Honours Kerala Palliative Care Pioneer; Experts Seek Wider Access

The World Health Organization SEARO’s recognition of Dr. K. Suresh Kumar, founder of the Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM), Kozhikode, Kerala has put India’s community-driven palliative care model in the global spotlight, even as experts have called for its wider adoption across the country.

Dr. Kumar received the WHO Director-General’s Award for his contribution to advancing palliative care and developing a model that brings together healthcare professionals, local governments, trained volunteers and communities to support people living with serious and life-limiting illnesses.

The recognition comes as India faces a growing need for long-term supportive care. Last year, the WHO had constituted the WHO South-East Asia Regional Award for Public Health Champions, recognising individuals who have made significant contributions to public health in the region.

For more than three decades, Dr. Kumar has worked to take palliative care out of hospitals and specialist centres and closer to patients’ homes. His efforts have been instrumental in developing what is now known as the Kerala Model of palliative care, which combines professional medical support with community participation.

According to the WHO, the model has helped palliative-care coverage reach nearly 60% of Kerala’s population, compared with less than 2% nationally. Its principles have also been adapted in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Bhutan.

The model is built around a simple premise: serious illness affects not only the patient but also the family and caregivers. Community volunteers, supported by trained healthcare teams, help extend care to people who may be elderly, bedridden, severely ill or unable to make frequent hospital visits.

The need is particularly significant for patients with cancer, advanced heart and lung diseases, kidney and liver failure, neurological disorders, dementia and other progressive illnesses. With India’s ageing population and rising burden of non-communicable diseases, doctors say the demand for palliative care is likely to grow.

Importantly, palliative care is not restricted to the final stages of life. It can begin soon after diagnosis and continue alongside treatment aimed at controlling or curing the underlying disease. Its focus includes pain and symptom relief as well as psychological, social and spiritual support.

Calling Dr. Kumar’s recognition an acknowledgement of a model that India urgently needs, Dr. Tarun Batra, Director, Surgical Oncology, ApolloMedics Hospital, Lucknow, said:

“With more people living with serious, chronic and life-limiting illnesses, palliative care is becoming more important in today’s healthcare landscape. Medical science advances have allowed patients to live longer with conditions like cancer, heart failure, kidney disease, neurological disorders, and other chronic illnesses. But a longer life doesn’t always mean a better life. This is where palliative care is so important."

“Palliative care is focused on improving the quality of life for patients by relieving pain, symptoms, emotional distress and psychological, social and spiritual needs. It is not just for end-of-life care and may be initiated concurrently with curative or disease-directed treatment."

“Healthcare is no longer about treating a disease; it’s about understanding the person behind the illness. Palliative care supports this patient-centred approach, as it helps people to live as comfortably, independently and with as much dignity as possible. It also gives much-needed support to families and caregivers who often face considerable emotional and practical challenges caring for a seriously ill loved one.”

Explaining the scope of the speciality, Dr. Batra said:

“Palliative care is a type of medical care that aims to improve the quality of life for people with serious or long-lasting illnesses. Its goal is to alleviate suffering and control symptoms, rather than simply treating the underlying disease. Palliative care can be provided at any stage of a serious illness and can be provided in conjunction with treatments that aim to control or cure the disease.”

He said the approach also requires a multidisciplinary team involving doctors, nurses, counsellors, psychologists, physiotherapists, nutritionists and other professionals. Such teams can help patients manage pain, breathlessness, fatigue, nausea, sleep problems and anxiety while also addressing emotional and social concerns.

Dr. Rajeev Kumar, Vice Chairman - Surgical Oncology, Yatharth Super Speciality Hospital, Model Town, Delhi, said palliative care recognises the wider impact of serious illness on patients and their caregivers.

“Palliative care is important because serious and chronic illnesses impact so much more than a person’s physical health,” he said, explaining that patients may experience ongoing pain, fatigue, breathlessness, anxiety, depression, loss of independence and uncertainty about the future.

“Families and caregivers may also experience emotional stress, financial pressures and the challenge of providing long-term care."

“Palliative care comprehensively addresses these concerns. For families, palliative care is a way to help loved ones and cope with the emotional and practical challenges of illness. It can also help patients, families and the health care team communicate with each other and understand the goals of care.”

The larger challenge, however, remains accessibility. While Kerala has developed a strong community network, patients in many parts of India—particularly rural and economically disadvantaged communities—continue to face limited access to trained professionals, pain relief and home-based services.

Dr. Rajeev Kumar said greater awareness, early referral and integration into mainstream healthcare would be essential to bridge the gap.

“India needs a more robust, integrated approach to palliative care so that availability of such services is not restricted by a patient’s place of residence or financial situation."

“One of the biggest challenges is awareness. Many still associate palliative care solely with the end stages of cancer or that seeking palliative care means giving up on treatment. More public education is therefore needed to explain that palliative care can start early and go hand in hand with active medical treatment."

“Palliative care should also be integrated more systematically in hospitals, primary healthcare centres and community-based healthcare services. The growth of home-based palliative care can be particularly useful for patients who have trouble getting to hospitals,” he added.

“There is also a need to improve training for doctors, nurses and other health professionals so that basic palliative care is incorporated into routine clinical practice. Policymakers should provide dedicated services, funding, infrastructure, and referral systems, especially in underserved areas."

“Finally, more collaboration between government institutions, hospitals, NGOs and community organisations can help raise awareness and accessibility. Integrating palliative care into the routine of comprehensive healthcare will ensure that patients receive not only treatment but also comfort, dignity and compassionate support,” said Dr. Rajeev Kumar.