Excelsior Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 11: The Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, the leading institution in the field of palliative care in the Jammu region, organized a Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on the occasion of World Palliative Care Day, with the theme “Achieving the Promise of Universal Access to Palliative Care.”
The GMC Jammu is presently the only institute in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir that provides indoor facilities for palliative care patients, with a dedicated 10-bedded ward in addition to routine OPD and home-care services, which have been operational since 2021.
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, Principal and Dean of GMC Jammu, an eminent oncologist and a strong advocate for palliative care services.
In his address, he highlighted the major achievements of the Department of Palliative Medicine, including round-the-clock inpatient services with 24-hour duty coverage by residents and faculty, a dedicated emergency helpline (9070250150) accessible to patients at any time, and an adequate and uninterrupted supply of essential opioids such as morphine tablets, fentanyl patches, morphine and fentanyl injections, and methadone.
This year’s CME witnessed enthusiastic participation, with over 150 delegates from across the Jammu region. The scientific program featured multiple panel discussions and expert deliberations. The organizing team included Dr. Anita Vig Kohli (Organizing Chairperson), Dr. Rajesh Mahajan (Organizing Secretary), Dr. Madan Katoch and Dr. Ashwini Kumar (Scientific Chairpersons), and Dr. Naini Bhadrala and Dr. Shruti Gupta (Co-organizing Secretaries). The deliberations and proceedings were led by Dr. Santosh Rajput, Dr. Rajdeep Kour, and Dr. Lovleen Kaur.
Other prominent members who contributed to the conference included Dr. Smriti Gulati, Dr. Anju Jamwal, Dr. Renu Wakhloo, Dr. Ajay Gupta, Dr Robina Nazir, Arti Mahajan, Dr. Mushtaq Wani, Dr Amit Manhas, and Dr Isha Gupta.
Dr. Rajesh Mahajan, Organizing Secretary, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the importance of such academic events in promoting knowledge-sharing and skill development for the growth of the specialty of palliative care.
Distinguished faculty members from various departments of GMC Jammu – including Orthopaedics, Surgery, Medicine, ,microbiology , pharmacology , Radiotherapy, Oncology, and Paediatrics – also participated actively in the deliberations.
The event marked a significant step toward strengthening palliative care education, awareness, and service delivery in the Jammu region, further reinforcing GMC Jammu’s leadership in this vital area of patient-centered care.
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