The Fellowship in Palliative Care is an advanced course offered by the Institute of Palliative Medicine in India, in collaboration with the Sanjeevan Palliative Care Project in Pondicherry, St. Christopher’s Hospice in London, and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University in Bangladesh. This six-month program is designed for distance education, with occasional contact sessions based on adult learning principles. It is conducted through the Institute of Palliative Medicine in Calicut, India, at the request of the World Health Organization (WHO), which designates it as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Community Participation in Palliative Care and Long-term Care. The program's goal is to address the global shortage of organizational and management skills in palliative care by offering high-quality training that is affordable for participants from low- and middle-income countries.
The primary objective of the Fellowship program is to educate palliative care workers, equipping them with a deep understanding of core issues in organizing palliative care at the grassroots level and keeping them informed about recent advances and challenges in palliative care and community involvement on regional, national, and global levels. The curriculum covers the fundamentals, concepts, and skills necessary for organizing and managing palliative care services, with practical applications in the participants' local contexts. Successful candidates receive certificates upon completing the course.
To date, around 550 individuals from over 50 countries have successfully completed the program. In 2021, the program received the Leadership Award from the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC) and the European Palliative Care Academy (EUPCA) for its exemplary leadership capacity building program on a global scale.
Target Audience
The target audience for this course includes individuals working in or interested in palliative care, such as clinical staff, program managers, coordinators, community volunteers, trainers, and program managers in palliative care within non-governmental organisations and government agencies.
It is also open to social workers, non-clinical volunteers, healthcare advocacy groups, and healthcare professionals who want to explore palliative care.
Outline of the Course Schedule
The course includes a mix of online sessions, discussions, assignments, peer assessments, and presentations spanning six months, starting in January 2024. The program's online sessions commence in the last week of January 2024, with additional full-day sessions in February and one per month after that. The specific dates for these sessions will be provided later. Registered candidates will have access to an online learning platform with recorded sessions, discussion forums, and other resources from January 15, 2024, to December 31, 2024.
Additionally, candidates are expected to dedicate around 120 hours over six months to various course-related activities, including preparing presentations, completing assignments, peer evaluations, and participation in the discussion forum. International experts will also offer optional workshops on palliative care-related subjects.
Course Fee
The course fee is INR12,000 (US$150), to be remitted on receipt of the selection letter
Evaluation and Certification
Candidates will be evaluated through
- Presentations online by the candidate
- Quality of contributions in discussion fora
- Response to Assignments to be submitted online
- Level of participation in the interactive sessions and group activities
Securing a minimum of 50% marks is required for claiming the completion certificate. Certificate acknowledging the successful completion of the program will be issued jointly by the four organizing institutions.
Applications must be submitted by December 15, 2023, and selection notifications will be sent by December 31, 2023. To secure a place in the program, selected candidates must remit their fees by January 15, 2024
Contact:
For application forms and further information or clarifications, interested individuals can contact fellowship.palliativecare@gmail.com.
