Certificate in Basics of Cancer and Non-Cancer Palliative Care

Introduction of the Sector

Healthcare sector comprising of hospitals, medical devices, clinical trials, outsourcing, telemedicine, medical tourism, health insurance and medical equipment has become one of India’s largest sectors – both in terms of revenue and employment. With increased awareness of health, domestic healthcare, medical tourism and health insurance markets are gaining momentum, offering opportunities for trained personnel

Programme Introduction

Palliative care is recognised as a specialty aiming at relieving suffering, improving quality of life and comfort care. Knowledge in palliative care and end of life care are essential components. It enables to provide comprehensive support to patients with serious illnesses and their families, focusing on improving quality of life through symptom management, emotional and spiritual support, and facilitating informed decision-making. Most of the patient's death in hospital setup occurs not because of an acute event but because of chronic illnesses. Palliative care is needed not only in cancer but also in chronic debilitating diseases. The major challenge in providing palliative care is lack of knowledge, attitudes, and skills among the health care providers. Pain during end of life is not adequately managed, and patients are not being prognosticated by the physicians. This is due to lack of skill training in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching curriculum, as well as insufficient sensitisation among policymakers. Therefore, health care professionals must have an adequate knowledge of palliative care concepts to effectively implement this knowledge in medical settings. This short-term certificate programme in basics of cancer and non-cancer palliative care aims to provide healthcare professionals with foundational knowledge and skills in palliative care, focusing on symptom management of each system, communication, and ethical decision-making, with the goal of improving patient care and quality of life. Employability/Skill Enhancement This Short-term Skill Enhancement Programmes (StSEPs) programme equips healthcare professionals with foundational knowledge and skills to improve patient care, particularly for those with serious illnesses. It also enhances employability by equipping medical healthcare professionals with specialised skills in symptom management, communication, and end-of-life care. This improves the quality of life of patients by effectively managing physical and psychological symptoms and helping them cope with functional decline. The programme fosters a compassionate approach to patient care, which is highly valued in palliative care settings.

Career Prospects / Job Role

• This certificate programme opens doors for healthcare providers to work closely with patients and their families to ensure comfort, focusing on improving quality of life. This StSEP programme aims to upskill such healthcare workers in providing frontline care to chronically ill patients, assessing patient needs, planning, implementing individualised care plans and collaborating with interdisciplinary teams. Candidates may find employment in hospitals, hospice care, long-term care facilities, private practice, home health care services and nursing care services..