Bengaluru: USA’s Johns Hopkins University (JHU) signed an MoU with Bengaluru-based Ajit Isaac Foundation (AIF) to provide assistance in setting up and launching palliative care centres in India. These centres aim to provide “compassionate, dignified care to terminally ill patients in underserved regions in India, along with training and supporting community-based caregivers,” the parties said in a statement.
AIF will establish a 63-bed Palliative Care Centre in Tumkur–neighbouring Bengaluru by early next year. This Centre will serve as the foundation for the JHU-AIF collaboration, which aims to design and implement comprehensive training programmes in palliative care, offered both online and offline, with mentorship support for staff.
“JHU will help in developing a research fellowship and designing curriculum. Additionally, AIF and JHU will jointly host workshops and conferences, both in India and internationally, to showcase the latest advancements in palliative care, fostering knowledge exchange and the adoption of best practices,” AIF said in a statement.
President, JHU during the signing of the MoU said, “We are committed to bridging the healthcare divide, ensuring compassionate and dignified care for all. With colleagues in India, we will use evidence-based approaches to help healthcare providers and caregivers improve quality of life for terminally ill patients, regardless of geography or circumstances.”
Meanwhile, Co-founder of AIF, Ajit Isaac emphasised that there is a pressing need for skilled personnel, infrastructure and resources to provide dignity and compassionate care to those in need at the end of life.
The foundation said that of an estimated 8-10 million Indians who need palliative care, only 1-2% have access to it, which is significantly lower than the global average of 14%.”With most palliative care centres being concentrated in urban locations, India faces a healthcare access equity issue, especially in rural areas where services are scarce,” AIF added that the initiative will aid in addressing these disparities by expanding access to high-quality end-of-life care in underserved regions.
