|
STAR Hospitals on Thursday launched dedicated Pain and Palliative Care Services for cancer patients at its Cancer Centre in Nanakramguda, Hyderabad, with former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the facility.
The hospital said the initiative makes STAR Hospitals the first private hospital in Hyderabad to integrate a dedicated, full-scale Pain and Palliative Care Service into its comprehensive cancer care programme. The launch event was attended by STAR Hospitals Chairman and Founding Promoter Dr Gopichand Mannam, Director and Founding Promoter Dr Ramesh Gudapati, Senior Consultant and Head of Medical Oncology Dr Sainath Bhethanabhotla, Senior Consultant and Head of Surgical Oncology Dr Vipin Goel, former Director Jairaj Kumar P and philanthropist Pradeep Chowdhary, among others. Speaking at the event, Naidu said the initiative reflected the hospital's commitment to providing holistic and patient-centred cancer care. "Palliative care is not an alternative to active treatment, nor is it reserved only for the final stages of illness. It works hand in hand with curative and life-prolonging therapies, providing an added layer of specialised support that enhances the patient's quality of life throughout the course of treatment," he said. Naidu also emphasised the importance of cancer prevention, regular health check-ups, screening programmes and early detection, saying that early diagnosis remains key to successful treatment. The newly launched service will provide pain and symptom management from the early stages of diagnosis, alongside active treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. The service will also offer advanced pain relief through targeted interventional procedures, including nerve blocks and intrathecal pumps, along with customised pain management protocols. The hospital said the initiative will provide multidisciplinary support through psycho-oncology, nutritional counselling, physical rehabilitation and 24/7 emergency pain support. Dr Sainath Bhethanabhotla said cancer care should focus not only on extending life but also on ensuring comfort and dignity throughout the treatment journey. "By integrating palliative care alongside active medical oncology treatments right from the beginning, we ensure our patients retain their strength, comfort, and peace of mind throughout their treatment journey," he said. Dr Vipin Goel said relieving pain and restoring daily comfort were equally important aspects of cancer treatment. "Dedicated palliative oncology allows us to offer seamless, comprehensive relief and procedural pain control so that patients can undergo therapies with minimal discomfort," he said. Dr Ramesh Gudapati said the launch was in line with the hospital's founding vision of combining clinical excellence with empathy and compassionate care. As part of the event, several individuals and healthcare professionals were felicitated for their contribution to cancer care. Pradeep Chowdhary, Managing Director of Gemini Edibles and Fats India Limited, was recognised for supporting free cancer treatment for underprivileged patients. Dr Gowda Sreehari, Senior Consultant in Surgical Oncology, Laparoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery at STAR Hospitals, was honoured for completing 1,000 free cancer surgeries. Dr Gayatri Palat, Associate Professor of Pain and Palliative Medicine at MNJ Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Centre, Hyderabad, was felicitated for her efforts in establishing dedicated palliative care services in the public sector. STAR Hospitals staff members were also honoured for their selfless service, empathy and commitment to patient wellbeing. (ANI)
|
