Kerala to declare Palliative care a right; 'Kerala Care' scheme to offer services free at home

Thiruvananthapuram: The state government is set to ensure free palliative care services for bedridden patients and those suffering from severe illnesses. Aiming to establish palliative care as a citizen's right, the government plans to implement a ‘Universal Palliative Care’ scheme. As part of this, all palliative care services will be integrated under one umbrella titled ‘Kerala Care’, with a dedicated grid being established.

With this move, registration will be made mandatory for individuals and organisations working in the palliative care sector. Officials said that the project will be jointly implemented by local self-governments and health departments and is set to be rolled out shortly.

There are an estimated 1.5 lakh bedridden patients in the state. Including those suffering from serious illnesses who require expert care, the number of people in need of services rises to around 6 lakh. The initiative aims to ensure home-based care and medical assistance for all such patients.

Patients, secretaries of panchayats, municipalities, and corporations, the district joint director, medical officers at primary health centres, volunteers, and NGOs will all be registered under the Kerala Care grid. Palliative care activities will be coordinated from the ward level to the state level. Authorities said the registration process is currently in its final stages.

In addition to volunteers, services of specially trained nurses and doctors will be made available. Medicines, care equipment, and physiotherapy facilities will also be arranged as part of the initiative.

ASHA workers will also be involved in implementing the scheme.

Free care at the doorstep

• Registration and adequate care for patients
• Registration and training for volunteers, organisations, and institutions
• Patients can choose their palliative care provider
• A dashboard to monitor the programme from ward level to state level