Report No. 241
12. Palliative Care
12.1 Palliative care to the terminally ill patients beyond the stage of recovery is an allied aspect which needs to be taken care of by the Governments. Making palliative care affordable and free for the needy people, training of doctors and medical students in pain-treatment and palliative care are the needs of the day. The medical profession apart from giving effect to passive euthanasia where necessary must ensure that the dying patient receives proper care in a peaceful environment inside or outside the hospital.
There are reports that the hospitals find it difficult to procure morphine and other pin-relieving drugs which are regulated under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The stumbling blocks in the way of palliative care have to be removed, if necessary, by changing the rules dealing with narcotic drugs.
There is every need for the Governments to frame Schemes extending palliative care to terminally ill patients undergoing grave suffering and pain. The palliative care seems to be a neglected area at present. This situation should not continue for long. It is needless to state that patients who are economically handicapped or those belonging to weaker sections of the society should come up for special focus in any such Scheme.
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