Tumakuru, June 23: NIRAM RIMH Palliative Care Centre and the Tumakuru District Administration have signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the presence of Ms. Shubha Kalyan, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Tumakuru, and Dr. Chandrashekhar G., District Health Officer, Tumakuru, along with representatives of the Ajit Isaac Foundation. The partnership will explore opportunities for collaboration aimed at strengthening awareness, capacity building, and access to palliative care services in the district.
NIRAM RIMH Palliative Care Centre, a project of the Ajit Isaac Foundation set up on the Rural India Mission Hospital Campus on Sira Road, Tumkur, provides palliative care through home care, inpatient, and outpatient services. The Centre has a technical partnership with Johns Hopkins University, a globally recognised leader in public health and palliative care. Palliative Care is a specialised and holistic form of care that seeks to provide symptom relief, comfort, and support to people living with serious, chronic, or terminal illness. It addresses the physical, psychological, socio-economic, and spiritual needs of patients and their families and focuses on providing dignity of care. The in-patient service ward began operations in April while the Centre is providing home care services since October ’25.
The partnership comes at a time when palliative care is receiving increased attention within public health systems across India, including Karnataka. Through this collaboration, NIRAM hopes to support ongoing efforts of the district administration and health department for increased access to Palliative Care services.
Commenting on the partnership, Ajit Isaac, Founder Trustee of Thankamma Ithapiri Memorial Trust, said, “Palliative care is increasingly being recognised as an important component of healthcare delivery. We are encouraged by the interest and support shown by the Tumakuru District Administration and look forward to working alongside government health systems in ways that are practical, meaningful, and responsive to local needs.”
“Palliative care plays a vital role in improving quality of life for individuals living with serious illnesses and supporting their families. Strengthening awareness and access to these services can help ensure more compassionate and dignified care,” said Ms. Shubha Kalyan, IAS, Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Tumakuru.
The Centre, which provides 24/7 medical and nursing care. has 75 beds and includes general wards, shared rooms, and private rooms, consultation and therapy rooms for outpatient consultation and allied health services, and a pharmacy unit. The Centre offers free inpatient care through a 30-bed general ward, equally allocated for male and female patients. In addition, semi-private and private rooms are available for patients who are able to contribute towards the cost of their care.
Besides in-patient services, the Centre has a dedicated home care services team that visits homes of palliative care patients to address the particular need of patients. Once the social worker identifies and screens a patient, the home care team visits the family and provides the required care for the patient. In addition to visiting patients’ homes, the team does regular tele follow-ups.
“At Niram, we believe no one should face illness alone. Through empathy, connection, and the many contours of care, we strive to offer comfort, dignity, and hope to every moment of the journey,” Dr Shetty, Project Director, Niram explains.
The Centre also has a counsellor who provides emotional and psychological support to both patients and caregivers and also bereavement support to families of deceased patients periodically with a plan to continue to be with them for at least a year so that the family can slowly come to terms with the loss and are able to function. Depending on the need of care givers and families, the home care team and the counsellor visit them.
Niram RIMH Palliative Care Centre is dedicated to strengthening palliative care in India through compassionate service, meaningful research, and education, with a deep commitment to dignity, equity, and humane care for every individual.