The Maharashtra government has launched a landmark universal palliative care programme, ensuring that patients with chronic and life-limiting illnesses receive compassionate care not just in hospitals, but also at home.
Under the new policy, palliative care has been recognised as an essential health service and will be integrated across the public healthcare system from primary health centres and urban clinics to district hospitals.
District hospitals will earmark four to six beds specifically for palliative care patients, ensuring uninterrupted access to treatment. Importantly, strong pain-relief medicines such as morphine will now be available at the primary healthcare level, allowing trained doctors to manage severe pain closer to patients’ homes.
The programme goes beyond cancer care, covering patients with advanced heart, kidney and lung diseases, stroke, neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s and dementia, chronic age-related pain, paediatric conditions, and long-term mental health illnesses.
A key feature of the initiative is the “Hospitals to Homes” model, under which multidisciplinary teams including doctors, nurses, community health officers, ASHA workers and counsellors will provide home-based care. Depending on need, patients will receive regular visits for medical support, counselling and caregiver guidance.
The policy also includes bereavement support for families, teleconsultation services, integration with emergency ambulance systems, and mental health helplines to ensure holistic care.
The state plans to involve community volunteers, local organisations and CSR partners, aiming to build a people-driven support system alongside government services. The programme will be funded through national health schemes, with regular monitoring to ensure effective implementation.
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