Media Release
Udupi, Feb 24: The International Collaborative Coordinating Centre, a Europe-based organisation with 22 member countries situated at the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom, has recognised Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal as the International Reference Centre for Palliative and End of Life Care. The Kasturba Medical College and Hospital, Manipal, is India's first and only institute to have this recognition.
Dr H S Ballal, pro-chancellor and Lt Gen (Dr) M D Venkatesh, vice-chancellor of MAHE Manipal, jointly handed over the certificate to Dr Sharath K Rao, dean KMC, Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent and C G Muthana of Kasturba Hospital. Dr PLNG Rao, pro-vice-chancellor (Faculty of Health Sciences), Dr Venkatraya M Prabhu, pro-vice-chancellor (Health Sciences) and Dr Narayana Sabhahit, registrar of MAHE Manipal, and members of the department of Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care were present.
The recognition to Kasturba Hospital Manipal is because of its continued clinical work, national-level policies, guidelines and research in palliative and end of life care. In 2019, the Kasturba Hospital released a historic procedural guideline document titled BLUE MAPLE, which allowed several organisations and institutes across India to adopt and develop their documents. Kasturba Hospital Manipal is the first hospital in India to start a Critical Care Review Board (CCRB) and protocols for high-risk discharge against medical advice (DAMA). The exemplary work of Kasturba Hospital Manipal during COVID times in terms of developing a COVID Care Plan for critically ill COVID patients was internationally acclaimed and published as research work.
On this occasion, Dr M D Venkatesh said, “Sitting in the semi urban city like Manipal and getting national or international recognition and award is not easy. With all these barrier, team of palliative medicine and hospital did wonderful job. So I congratulate the whole team for this achievement. The recognition enables Manipal to assume a vital role in the care of the terminally and critically ill patients in developing policies and procedural guidelines, quality assurance, advocacy, conducting education and training activities, research, and capacity building of other institutions in the delivery of palliative care. This recognition is a significant milestone in Kasturba Hospital's consistent excellence in clinical care.”
Dr Ballal congratulated the team and said, "Kasturba Hospital, Manipal is the only hospital in India with an organised ICU Palliative Care discipline, which has led to Manipal taking the leadership role of ICU-Palliative Care Special Interest Group of the Asia Pacific region from 2022 onwards. The KMC Manipal is the first private medical college and only medical college in India to start MD Palliative Medicine.”