What are the new palliative care guidelines in Kerala?

Kerala has revised guidelines to expand palliative care services, ensuring support for all income groups and mandating its inclusion in local body plans.

How will Kerala Care portal help patients?

The Kerala Care portal will manage ward-level patient lists, connecting registered volunteers and care teams to individuals needing palliative support.

What is the population coverage for Kerala's home care units?

Each new home care unit in Kerala will be responsible for providing palliative care to a population of 20,000 individuals.

Home / Health / Kerala Boosts Palliative Care for All Income Groups

Kerala Boosts Palliative Care for All Income Groups

18 Jan

•

Summary

Revised guidelines mandate palliative care inclusion in local body plans.
Ward-level patient lists will be created and managed via 'Kerala Care' portal.
Home care units will serve 20,000 population each with dedicated personnel.

Kerala Boosts Palliative Care for All Income Groups

Kerala's Local Self-Governments department has updated its palliative care guidelines, aiming to enhance primary and secondary level services for all residents. The revisions ensure that individuals from every income bracket, residing in both urban and rural settings, will receive comprehensive support. These improvements are designed to streamline the existing system and expand its reach significantly.

Mandatory inclusion of palliative care projects in annual plans by all local bodies is now required. These bodies must develop ward-level lists of patients needing care, including the bed-ridden and those with long-term serious illnesses. This crucial data will be entered into the 'Kerala Care' portal, a community-based palliative care grid.

Volunteer recruitment and training will be facilitated through social organizations. Registered volunteers will be linked to patients, ensuring regular house visits—bi-weekly for the bed-ridden and monthly for others, with flexibility for daily needs. To ensure adequate service delivery, one home care unit with essential personnel will be established for every 20,000 individuals.