Palliative care units in need of trained medicos

The palliative care units in Ariyalur, Karur, Pudukottai, Chennai, Perambalur, Theni, Dharmapuri, Nagapattinam, Sivagangai, Nilgiris, Madurai and Virudhunagar are in need of staff and medical field workers as palliative care requires trained staff to offer home-based community service.

However, medical staff associated with the units are not given training under community programme to serve the patients at home. PT Ali, social activist and entrepreneur who co-runs Chennai Pain and Palliative Care have been stressing on the need for training programmes since the set-up of pain and palliative care units.

“Various diseases including cancer, HIV, kidney failure, multi-organ failure, paralysis require palliative care. Though new units are being set up, training programmes for the doctors and nurses are the need of the hour. Patients require palliative care at home and thus, training for the kin of the patient, too, by the medical staff is necessary,” he added.

 While the State Health Department officials blame it on the structure of the National Health Mission programme, senior officials associated with the palliative unit operations said that training is only provided for the visiting nurses.

“There are new units that are being set up under the programme and after this phase, a comprehensive training programme for all doctors and nurses can be considered,” said Public Health Director, Dr K Kolandaisamy.