The city-based Aster Malabar Institute of Medical Science (MIMS) has become the first private hospital in Kerala to launch a specialised Palliative Care ward here today.
The Integrated Palliative Care ward, an extension of the Aster MIMS Oncology Centre, will employ the principles of "active total care" to improve quality of life, treating pain and other symptoms and at the same time offering social, emotional and spiritual support.
Talking to reporters at the inauguration, Specialist in Palliative Oncology at Aster MIMS Vineetha Rijju said, "Life with a serious disease like cancer is often associated with a lot of suffering, all the more so when the cancer is incurable.Pain and other symptoms like nausea and breathing difficulties make life unbearable for the patient".
"The Integrated Palliative Care ward will focus on managing and controlling these distressing symptoms by providing pain relief and comfort when a cure is no longer possible", she added.
