In 1994, the Foundation started programmes to create awareness on the need and scope of palliative care. In 1995, a surgeon from our Foundation received palliative care training at the Oxford International Centre for Palliative Care (OICPC) under a McMillan Fellowship grant. In 1996 a radiotherapist joined the Foundation and took active interest in the palliative care work. This gave a further boost to our activities and we conducted several one-off awareness and training programmes in Indore. The support of Ms. Gilly Burn, palliative care nurse from U .K., was invaluable in this initial phase.

Then came the AUSAID supported pilot project for developing a district based Palliative Care model. The decision to take up this project was based on the findings of our WHO funded survey on incidence of pain in rural areas. The project was implemented in the district of Dhar, a predominantly tribal area of Madhya Pradesh, with active support of the Dhar District Administration. According to Dr. Robert Twycross, a well-known Palliative Care expert, this project has the potential for replication in the other districts of India.

Dr. Robert Twycross, Emeritus Reader in Palliative Medicine, Oxford University, and Academic Director, OICPC and Head, WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care, contribution to our efforts is invaluable. We specially appreciate all the classroom and bedside clinical training that he has done for us, all in an honorary capacity. He is a truly inspiring teacher. In recognition of his monumental contribution he was made Honorary Member of the Indore Cancer Foundation, only the 2nd to be so honored.

In February 2001, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with OICPC for the setting up of a palliative care clinic at Indore. Following this, a physician volunteered to bear the cost and attend a palliative care training programme at the Calicut Pain and Palliative Care Clinic.

From 2002 to 2006 we offered palliative care as an in-patient facility at the Mission Hospital, Indore and as an OPD facility at our Institute in Rau & our Shalini Bhouraskar centre, Indore.

Today, the palliative care services are basically being offered as an in-patient facility at the Mission Hospital, Indore.

This scenario is set to change in 2011 as the Padma-Keshav Trust has offered to donate money for the construction of a hospice, "Kirpalaya" and a young doctor, Gaurav Gupta, is getting himself trained to become a palliative care physician. Both these events are set to give fresh impetus to our palliative care activities.

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