ACS Health inaugurates training for first ever Palliative Care Centre at Gandhi Nagar Hospital

Jammu : Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Health and Medical Education, Vivek Bhardwaj, Friday inaugurated three day training program for Palliative Care and Geriatric Care here at Government Hospital, Gandhi Nagar.
Director General MCH, Immunization, Family Welfare and Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Saleem–ur-Rehman was present on the occasion.
It was informed that the Health and Medical Education Department under the Directorate of Health Services is starting Palliative and Geriatric Care services in all the 10 districts of Jammu division.
Bhardwaj appreciated the role of Directorate of Health Services in launching these much awaited services in the health sector. He said that the increasing life expectancy and the associated changes in end-of-life morbidity forecast are major challenges for health care and this vital facility will immensely help towards meeting such issues.
On the occasion, Dr Rehman said that this hospital is presently the only District Hospital in Jammu and Kashmir which has qualified for being the first registered Medical Centre for Palliative Care. He said that every district hospital of the division would be provided this service shortly.
The 3-day training program is being conducted in collaboration with Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) under the supervision of Dr Sushma Bhatnagar, HoD Pain and Palliative Care, AIIMS New Delhi. Besides, faculty from different parts of the country is attending the training program to train 2 doctors and nurses from each district of Jammu. This is the first of its kind of training program in J&K.
Dr. Sushma Bhatnagar handed over the Certificate of Registration to ACS, Vivek Bhardwaj, during the event.
Dr Rohit Lahori, Unit Head of Palliative Care was also presented with the Certificate of Registration under Registered Medical Centre.