Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care
Established in 2018, the Department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, is committed to optimising the quality of life for individuals with serious, life-limiting illnesses through a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and patient-centred approach. The department offers the MD Palliative Medicine program (NMC-approved in 2021) and integrates teaching, clinical services, research, and capacity-building, supported by nationally and internationally trained faculty and dedicated inpatient, outpatient, and hospice facilities. Care spans all age groups and a wide range of conditions, including cancers, organ failure, neurodegenerative disorders, genetic illnesses, and complex chronic diseases.
Highlights
- KMC Manipal is the first private medical institution in India, and the fourth nationally, to offer the MD Palliative Medicine program.
- One of five institutions in India designated by the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) for integrated oncology and palliative care.
- First centre in the country recognised as an International Reference Centre for End-of-Life Care by the International Collaborative for Best Care of the Dying Person (University of Liverpool, UK).
- First centre in Asia accredited as a Designated Centre for Excellence in Supportive Care in Cancer by the Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC).
- Secured a 12.84 Cr ICMR CAR grant for multicentre palliative care research, and is establishing the ICMR–MAHE Centre for Advanced Research and the Karunashraya–MAHE Centre of Excellence for Advance Care Planning.
- The affiliated Manipal Hospice and Respite Care Centre opened in 2025 with 35 beds, with planned expansion to 100 beds.
- Contributes to national guidelines through ICMR, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and the National Cancer Grid, and collaborates with AIIMS Delhi, the Asia Pacific Hospice Network, and leading institutions in the UK and USA (Cardiff, Hull, Lancaster, UCSF, MD Anderson, Northwestern).
Services
Offered
Consultation–Liaison Services
The department provides specialized consultation for difficult symptoms, complex case discussions to support healthcare teams and families in decision-making, ethical guidance for end-of-life decisions and care transitions, and palliative care in the ICU for critically ill patients.
