Lucknow: The Department of Critical Care Medicine (CCM) at Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGI) organised a workshop on End-of-Life Care at the Hargobind Khurana Hall, Lecture Theatre Complex.
Amit Ghosh, Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary, Medical Education and Health, Government of Uttar Pradesh, was the chief speaker on the occasion. In his address, he elaborated on the need for structured end-of-life care in medical institutions to ensure a dignified death for patients suffering from incurable illnesses. He emphasised the importance of training all doctors in this crucial area and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to ethical and policy-driven medical care.
Echoing similar views, Prof. R. K. Dhiman, Director, SGPGI, highlighted the significance of integrating end-of-life care into institutional practice. He stressed the need for developing a standard operating procedure (SOP) for end-of-life care at SGPGI to ensure consistency, compassion, and ethical decision-making in patient management.
Dean Prof. Shaleen Kumar shared his clinical experience related to palliative care in oncology patients, underlining the importance of holistic care that addresses not only physical symptoms but also psychological and emotional needs of patients and their families.
The workshop was conducted in hybrid mode, with participation from around 25 participants online and 10 participants attending in person from various medical institutions, colleges, and centres. Faculty members from the departments of Anaesthesiology, Radiotherapy, Nephrology, and Hospital Administration also actively participated in the deliberations.
Queries raised by the participants were addressed by the organising team during interactive sessions. Prof. Banani Poddar, Head of the Department of CCM, discussed the SOP on end-of-life care developed at SGPGI, while Prof. Afzal Azim elaborated on the roadmap for implementing end-of-life care practices in other hospitals and institutions.
The workshop concluded with a shared consensus on the urgent need to strengthen end-of-life care services through training, clear protocols, and ethical frameworks, reinforcing SGPGI’s commitment to patient-centred and compassionate healthcare.
