Kerala govt rolls out two initiatives to integrate, simplify palliative care

In a major effort to provide better care for the chronically ill and bedridden, Kerala on Saturday rolled out the Universal Palliative Care project and the Kerala Palliative Care Grid — a technology-enabled project that will integrate healthcare efforts in the state and address the increasing needs of an ageing population.

Inaugurating the projects, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan described them as a novel model of humane governance in which volunteers, NGOs, healthcare personnel, and hospitals are brought together under one digital and administrative platform. The projects have been launched jointly by the health and local self-government departments.

"Palliative care is not only a healthcare concern, but also a social commitment. With this project, we want to provide dignity and comfort to the chronically ill and immobile patients," said the CM.

The new grid will produce real-time information on both the patients and caregivers, allowing timely intervention and support.

Kerala, aging much more rapidly than the rest of India, is already experiencing an increased need for palliative care. As of 2021, 16.5% of the state was 60 years or older, while the national average was 10.1%, reports show. Based on projections, this may increase to 22.8% by 2036, making Kerala's demand for end-of-life and long-term care even more pressing.

The state already boasts a solid foundation on which to grow. There are presently 1,142 primary palliative care units within local self-government, and more than 500 home-care units maintained by voluntary organisations, with over 1,000 charitable and social-service organisations. These units provide not only medical care, but psychological and financial aid as well, to patients and families.

The government's aim is to bring all these services under a single umbrella through the Palliative Care Grid," Pinarayi explained. The grid is engineered to register patients systematically, arrange home visits, monitor treatments, and assist caregivers. So far, more than 1.58 lakh patients have been registered on the platform.

Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh laid stress on the need for giving top priority to palliative care. "With 0.6% of the state's population bedridden and 2% suffering from long-term illnesses, this scheme is vital to our healthcare system," he explained.

Health Minister Veena George, Industries Minister P Rajeeve, and Hibi Eden MP were present on the occasion.