Pallium India lauds WHA exhorting governments to deliver palliative care services alongside safe testing, treatment for COVID-19

The WHA asked Governments to pay “particular attention to the protection of those with pre-existing health conditions, older persons, and other people at risk, in particular health professionals, health workers and other relevant frontline workers”

Pallium India – has lauded World Health Assembly (WHA), the decision-making body of WHO, for exhorting governments to deliver palliative care services alongside safe testing and treatment for COVID-19, in the recently concluded annual meeting on May 19, 2020. The WHA asks Governments to pay “particular attention to the protection of those with pre-existing health conditions, older persons, and other people at risk, in particular health professionals, health workers and other relevant frontline workers.” (Operative Paragraph 7.7) The resolution also calls for equitable access to medicines and vaccines.

“In 2014, the World Health Assembly had asked all member countries to integrate palliative care into healthcare at all levels (primary, secondary and tertiary) across the continuum of the disease (from the beginning of the suffering to the end). Palliative care is low-cost. There is absolutely no reason for us not to abide by the resolution. By doing so, we would be removing a huge chunk of suffering from our country,” said Dr MR Rajagopal, Founder and Chairman, Pallium India.

The decision by WHA at this time has tremendous significance, particularly considering that Dr Harsh Vardhan, India’s Union Health Minister has just taken over as Chairman of the Executive Board of WHA.