The state of healthcare across the country has been improving over the years. However, it still requires a lot to catch up as the number of patients with terminal diseases is rising. While the reasons can vary, it is well known that these patients deserve to be cared for as they continue their fight against life-threatening diseases.
It is where palliative care can help these patients and caregivers. Palliative care can help patients facing life-threatening or long-lasting diseases. You must also know that such care can also be performed along with the regular treatment. The focus is on alleviating the pain from patients and other symptoms that the patient may be facing. It can also allow caregivers to be relieved from some of the stress involved in caregiving.
The World Health Organization (Source: WHO) states that around 40 million patients globally need palliative care, and 78% belong to lower and middle-class families. Coming to India, the statistics are even grimmer. Only 1% of the population has access to quality palliative care and hospice.
“It is necessary that patients are provided proper care along with the treatment they are already receiving from their doctors. There is a need for advanced palliative care and hospice that adheres to global healthcare best practices,” says, Chief Health Officer at Aastha Center for Geriatric Medicine Palliative Care.
The healthcare center is the brainchild of Dr Abhishek Shukla and is among the best centers for palliative care in North India. It can provide primary and specialty care to senior citizens. Apart from giving advanced geriatric care, the center also offers terminal care for patients. They provide the best quality of life during the last stages of their life.
When more than 60% of senior persons do not have access to palliative care, it is challenging to locate sophisticated palliative care hospitals. The Aastha palliative care center is among the few ones in North India and the most advanced one in Lucknow. The healthcare center provides unique facilities to senior citizens, and doctors can visit the residences of these patients. They have a fleet of advanced and air-conditioned intensive care ambulances.
“We wanted to start a healthcare facility that would cater to the palliative care requirements of patients in the region. The facility also cares for the social, physiological, and practical requirements. There is also a wrong notion that such care is expensive, but it isn’t. Various low-cost drugs can help improve the quality of life,” says Dr Abhishek Shukla, the hospice and palliative care center founder.
The healthcare sector is seeing a significant uplift after recovering from the pandemic. It is time that we also thought about such niche caregiving facilities. Several elderly patients are yearning for better treatment to alleviate their pain. It can help improve the life of an elderly patient faced with a terminal disease.