The State-run C. V. Raman General Hospital in Bengaluru has tied up with One Billion Lives Foundation (OBLF), an NGO, to provide geriatric and palliative care services for needy patients closer to their homes. Initially, the services will be provided in around 12 slums of Hoysalanagar (ward 80) where the hospital is located.
Apart from in-patient care, the collaboration will enable provision of primary day care through a network of community clinics that are being established in schools and other such centres within slums for outpatient consultation and screening at the community level. The goal of palliative care is to prevent and relieve suffering and improve the quality of life for those battling terminal illnesses.
As part of the collaboration, a 12-bed ward, including six beds for female patients, has been set aside in the hospital. While the outpatient and referral services have started at the hospital, the in-patient unit and a vehicle for home care — procured through CSR funds — will soon be handed over by the hospital to the NGO.
Screening process
Hospital medical superintendent K. S. Rajesh told The Hindu that population-based screening and line listing of patients in Hoysalanagar slums is set to begin in a few days.
“We will focus the initial screening efforts in the 12 slums in this ward. The localities of Jairaj Nagar, Murphy Town, Lakshmipuram, Binnamangala, Harijan Seva Samaj (home to about 10,000 population) have been identified for initial intervention. We have also identified two places to set up the community clinics in these slums. Home care will be provided to those who are not in a position to come to the community clinics,” the doctor explained.
Palliative care physician Gopukrishnan Pillai, who is the Programme Director from OBLF, said a team comprising clinical, public health and management experts is being set up to run the project in Bengaluru.
“We are also working closely with the hospital authorities to obtain Recognised Medical Institution (RMI) status for the Palliative Care department. This will ensure adequate and uninterrupted availability of essential narcotic drugs. We are hoping to formally launch the full-fledged department and home care by mid-July,” Dr. Pillai said.
Two GPs of Anekal
“This project evolved out of our ongoing primary healthcare programme in two gram panchayats of Anekal taluk. In a little over a year, a highly decentralised model of community-based Geriatric and Palliative Care (GPC) has been firmly established in partnership with the public health system, covering nearly a third of the taluk (just under 100,000 population),” he said.
The programme undertakes a structured population-based approach to engage with different communities and groups. “With the help of volunteers recruited from the community, our nursing team identifies patients who are likely to benefit from the programme. These individuals are provided clinical services as appropriate to their goals of care. After screening, they will be provided the required care and medicine at the community clinics. While home care will be provided to those who cannot come to the clinics, those who need hospital care will be shifted to the hospital,” he explained.
The programme at C.V. Raman hospital, while still in its early days, is progressing well. “As of May 2025, we have started outpatient and referral services within the hospital. Initially, this involved the programme director and a nurse traveling from Anekal weekly on Wednesdays to help set up and run the OPD. Now, we have a full-time physician who is available at the hospital during regular working hours on all days,” the doctor added.
Published – June 11, 2025 11:49 am IST
