In 1997, on a 5-acre plot in Warje, Pune, Dr YK Hamied laid the foundation for one of India’s first dedicated palliative care centres. And, anchored us to the commitment of caring for patients and families in their most difficult times.
Click here to read about real-life journeys of care, compassion and resilience.
Our 50-bedded Centre is designed to provide personalised care and exudes an atmosphere of peace and serenity.
Our Centre is built around the concept of an ‘aangan’ or an open courtyard to foster a sense of community.
Our wards are named after flowers to bring cheer and comfort in a medical care setting.
Our patients are known by their names, not their bed numbers.
Actively engaging patients and their families in the care that they receive.
Empowering caregivers by giving them the confidence and necessary skills to care for their loved ones.
Implementing a multi- disciplinary approach with skilled professionals to deliver holistic care to patients.
Enabling patients to have access to palliative services at any point in their illness trajectory and in their preferred setting.
A service that is deeply embedded in the Indian ethos of family and community, where a family member stays with the patient at our Centre.
Patients and their caregivers are equally cared for by our team— whether at our Centre, at their home, or in an outpatient department.
We equip family members by giving them the confidence and skills needed to care for their loved ones. When they leave the Centre, it is this training that will allow them to cope with the all-consuming demands of a serious illness.
Family members also receive ongoing emotional and psychosocial support, including much-needed grief and bereavement counselling.
After a personalised assessment, patients and family members can access free-of-cost care at our Centre, in an outpatient department, or at home.
Our palliative care doctors work very closely with the patient’s physician; this partnership allows for consistent patient care. This multi-disciplinary approach ensures that the patient’s needs and concerns are effectively addressed.
Our HOLISTIC CARE is anchored in a family care model. Whether inpatient, outpatient or at home, this MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM comes together to SUPPORT PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.
Doctors and nurses use their specialised training in palliative medicine to relieve the physical pain and other symptoms of people living with a serious illness.
We follow the World Health Organization (WHO)1 analgesic ladder and the latest evidence-based interventional pain management techniques.
Alongside medical therapies, we offer much-needed emotional comfort and counselling, focusing on a holistic approach to care.
1World Health Organization. (2019). WHO Guidelines for the Pharmacological and Radiotherapeutic Management of Cancer Pain in Adults and Adolescents. Geneva: World Health. ISBN: 978 9241550390. Available at: https://apps.who.int/iris/bit
We aim to provide patients and their families the confidence that their pain and symptoms can be managed at home. Our home care team extends high quality free-of-cost care to patients living in the city of Pune.
We offer them the flexibility and convenience to receive support at their home.
We provide outpatient services at our Centre as well as at hospitals around Pune. Patients and their families meet with a doctor, nurse and social worker to discuss clinical advice, receive emotional support and information about other support services at all our OPDs. Additionally, OPD patients can also avail off services of the physiotherapist, nutritionist and pain specialist at our Centre.
Caring at our centre and in the community
We are proud to showcase these real-life journeys of courage, compassion and resilience.
-
Savita Shah
Wrapped in care - Rediscovering laughter and loveDiagnosed with advanced-stage ovarian cancer at 68, Savita Shah came to us in severe pain, overwhelmed by anxiety and fear. Multiple symptoms caused by the aggressive nature of her disease including abdominal pain, fatigue and gastrointestinal distress threatened to overshadow her remaining days. Her husband felt hopeless watching Savita’s once lively laughter slide into a silent sadness.
With pain relief medications, antiemetics for chemotherapy-induced nausea, nutritional support and intense counselling we tried to optimise her physical well-being and bring her and her family much-needed peace.
From medication to music therapy, we left no stone unturned to make Savita’s days brighter. She was able to enjoy her husband’s singing once more! Amidst the struggles, she found moments of pure joy – laughter shared with her grandchildren, quiet conversations with her husband and the warmth of a hand to hold in the darkest of nights.
-
Manish Apte
Hopeful once more - Bringing together Comfort and Curative CareManish Apte, 71 years, diagnosed with prostate cancer grappled with debilitating bone pain affecting his mobility,sleep and overall quality of life. Worries about his functional independence and financial security weighed heavily on his mind. He came to the Centre, his vitality and independence deeply eroded.
Our multidisciplinary team comprising physicians, nurses, social workers and counsellors guided his palliative care journey with an all-inclusive, personalised approach. This included combining pharmacological interventions such as opioid analgesics, adjuvant medications and nerve blocks with non-pharmacological modalities including physical therapy, psychosocial counselling and support with navigating his financial challenges.
Along with curative treatment, Manish Apte’s palliative care plan has continued. We extend skilled nursing care, medication management and wound care for him at his home. Today, he participates in his care decisions, can articulate his preferences and priorities and has regained his sense of self amidst the challenges of his illness. This wraparound care has given him both symptom control and capacity to function independently, restoring his strength and that smile!
-
Niraj Singh
Saying Goodbyes – Finding their way from sorrow to serenityNiraj Singh was 30 years old, newly married to his childhood sweetheart and settled into a job when he was diagnosed with liver cancer. He came to us in severe pain from the curative treatment, to the point of wanting to end his life. Having spent all their savings on his treatment, the family was in severe financial and psychological distress from dealing with cancer for more than two years.
With pain management, counselling and financial assistance for further treatment, including crowdfunding support, we revived their confidence and hope. We ensured Niraj’s surgery and chemotherapy sessions continued as long as he needed them without financially burdening the family.
Over seven months, we handheld him, his wife and his mother to come to terms with his illness and ready themselves to discuss end-of-life plans.
Niraj passed away peacefully, having celebrated his last birthday at the Centre. His wife baked the cake just as he liked it. We continue to extend bereavement support to his family – helping his mother to piece back her life. In honor of Niraj’s last wishes, his wife has moved back with her parents to start a new life.
It’s in the embrace of palliative care that Niraj’s wife and mother found comfort and the resilience to live their lives as Niraj would've wanted.
