These facilities ensure that patients with terminal illnesses receive much-needed relief from symptoms, aches and pains, and are able to lead better lives.
Updated: Mon 19 Dec 22 at 01:08am
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Hyderabad: In a major milestone, government hospitals in all 33 districts of Telangana now provide free palliative care facilities for terminally ill patients.
Established by the Government of Telangana in partnership with voluntary organizations, these facilities ensure that patients with terminal illnesses receive much-needed relief from symptoms, aches and pains and are able to lead a better life.
In addition to providing palliative care in area hospitals, frontline healthcare staff, including Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) trained in palliative care, also provide home care services.
A large number of terminally ill patients have limited mobility, making it difficult to travel to the nearest government medical facility. Therefore, trained ASHA and palliative care workers make home visits to provide them with the necessary care.
Free palliative care facilities provide end-of-life care for patients with deadly diseases such as cancer and distribute medical morphine for pain relief. All regional hospitals in the 33 districts provide inpatient and outpatient palliative care facilities. Each facility has a doctor, five nurses, a physiotherapist, a driver and five non-clinical staff to care for patients and carry out day-to-day activities.
The state government pays anywhere between Rs 3 million and Rs 3.5 million for each free palliative care facility. To enable healthcare workers to travel to patients’ homes, the state government is also providing them with mobile vans, known as Mobile Home Care Units (MHCUs).
