Invesment in Palliative Care in India

Source: The post Invesment in Palliative Care in India has been created, based on the article “Why India needs to invest in palliative care” published in “Indian Express” on 10th December 2024

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS-2 Governance

Context: The article underscores the urgent need for India to invest in palliative care as an integral part of its healthcare system. It highlights the multifaceted benefits of palliative care in alleviating health-related suffering, especially for patients with terminal illnesses or chronic conditions. Invesment in Palliative Care in India.

What is Palliative Care and Why is it Important?

1. Palliative care focuses on alleviating physical, psycho-social, spiritual, and financial suffering for patients and their caregivers.
2. It ensures individuals live with dignity and die peacefully, particularly in the face of terminal illnesses like cancer.

Why is Dying with Dignity a Global Concern?

1. In countries like the UK, debates around assisted dying have highlighted shortcomings in healthcare systems.
2. Data shows:
   • Two-thirds of requests for assisted dying come from terminal cancer patients.
   • Key reasons include loss of dignity, fear of becoming a burden, inadequate pain management, and financial constraints.

How Does Palliative Care Impact Patients and Caregivers?

1. Patients with suicidal thoughts, when provided adequate care, often live meaningful lives and die with dignity.
2. Palliative care addresses multifaceted issues: pain relief, emotional support, and financial planning.

What is the Current State of Palliative Care in India?

1. Less than 4% of those in need have access to palliative care.
2. Most care is provided by underfunded NGOs facing challenges like procuring licenses for oral morphine, a key pain relief medication.

What Are the Challenges in Expanding Palliative Care?

1. Legislative Hurdles:
   • Advance medical directives and living wills need clear enforcement.
   • Example: The Supreme Court disallowed parents from removing a feeding tube for a 30-year-old in a vegetative state, despite their inability to afford care.
2. Funding Shortages:
   • Even in the UK, hospices are shutting down due to reliance on charity.
   • Accessible palliative care requires significant government investment.

How Does India’s Socioeconomic Landscape Complicate Assisted Dying Laws?

1. India’s stratified society makes vulnerable populations prone to exploitation under assisted dying laws.
2. Example: Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) law has led to concerns about its misuse and a decline in accessible healthcare services for vulnerable populations.

What Steps Should India Take to Address Health-Related Suffering?

1. Integrate palliative care into the public healthcare system to make it universally available.
2. Increase investment in training healthcare workers and funding NGOs providing palliative care.
3. Address societal indifference to suffering by promoting awareness about the benefits of hospice and palliative care.

What is the Call to Action?

1. With rising non-communicable diseases and an ageing population, India must act urgently to prioritize palliative care.
2. The focus should be on accessible, compassionate, and affordable care to prevent suffering and reduce calls for assisted dying laws, which could have disastrous implications for the country.

What is at Stake if India Does Not Act?

1. Isolated pleas for assistance in dying may become widespread.
2. Vulnerable populations could be disproportionately affected by poorly implemented laws.
3. Neglecting palliative care will exacerbate suffering, leading to ethical, legal, and social crises.