Care beyond cure

Articles


This special 8-part series has been supported by Ajit Isaac Foundation. It examines the place of palliative care within India’s evolving healthcare landscape, drawing on the insights and experiences of key practitioners working to expand access and awareness. The series seeks to foster a deeper understanding of palliative care and its many dimensions, including dignified end-of-life care, advance care planning, family-centred care, and more within the Indian context.
Two women sitting, with one of them massaging the other's head.
September 4, 2026
How gram panchayats can foster a culture of palliative care
Gram panchayats can mobilise frontline workers, nonprofits, and healthcare professionals to deliver palliative care at home. Here's how Karnataka is putting this into practice, and why other states should follow suit.
a person in a wheelchair being steered by a healthcare worker looks on at an artificial pond--Hospice care
August 12, 2026
Care by design: Building a patient-centred hospice
Hospice care marks the end of life for patients with terminal illnesses. From local construction materials to social and emotional support, here's how such facilities can be designed to ensure comfort and quality of life.
by Mathew George Chandy| 8 min read
three women sitting and talking on a mat with a large basket to their right--palliative care
June 24, 2026
Dairy points and quiet conversations: Palliative care at the last mile
Rural patients often cannot access palliative care due to distant services and strained local systems. Based on our work in Karnataka, here’s what works and what is needed to improve health support in villages.
The image is set inside a home. A young women is sitting at the edge of a bed with her back turned to the camera. She is holding the hand of a person who is lying down on the bed, out of the frame.--palliative care
April 28, 2026
What does it mean to care for someone with a serious illness?
A day in the life of a counsellor and nurse in Mumbai as they provide home-based palliative care, helping patients and families face illness, loss, and uncertainty with dignity.
women sitting in front of a house on a raised brick platform--palliative care
March 17, 2026
A right to relief, comfort, and cure: Why palliative care matters
Up to 10 million Indians need palliative care each year, but few receive it. In this article, we break down myths about palliative care and explain why it is key for relieving pain, supporting treatment, and improving quality of life for people with serious illnesses.