ICMR Plans Multi-state Study To Strengthen Palliative Care Access In India

In a move to address the limited reach of palliative care services in India, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is set to roll out a multi-state implementation study aimed at expanding access across the public healthcare system. Palliative care, focused on relieving pain and improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses such as cancer, neurological disorders and advanced chronic conditions, remains largely inaccessible to the majority of Indians. Currently, less than 1 per cent of those in need are able to access such services.The gap is stark when viewed against the scale of demand. Estimates suggest that around 6.21 per 1,000 people in India require palliative care, with a higher burden in rural areas and among the elderly population. Globally, nearly 56.8 million people need palliative care annually, most of them residing in low- and middle-income countries.Experts caution that this demand is expected to rise significantly in the coming decades. According to projections by the World Health Organization, serious health-related suffering could increase by 87 per cent by 2060, driven by ageing populations and the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases.Despite this, India continues to face major barriers in delivering palliative care. These include a shortage of trained professionals, limited availability of services at the primary care level, regulatory challenges, and inadequate integration into mainstream healthcare delivery.The consequences are often felt most acutely by families. In the absence of accessible services, patients frequently incur high out-of-pocket expenses, while caregivers face significant physical, emotional and financial strain, especially in cases requiring long-term or home-based care. The upcoming ICMR study aims to address these gaps by developing and testing scalable models of palliative care delivery. These models will be implemented across various levels of the healthcare system, including district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres, and home-based care settings. The study will cover patients across different age groups and disease conditions.A key objective is to evaluate whether integrating palliative care into routine health services can improve patient coverage, reduce symptom burden, lower hospitalisation rates and ultimately decrease healthcare costs for families.ICMR has invited research teams to participate in the initiative. Selected groups will collaborate with state governments and the council to design and implement these care models.Public health experts believe that if successfully scaled, the initiative could mark a turning point in India’s approach to serious illness care, ensuring that patients not only live longer but also experience a better quality of life with reduced suffering.