About Us
The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute (GCRI)
GCRI is a State Cancer Institute located in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and one of the largest cancer care center of the country with modern facilities for diagnosis and treatment. Over more than fifty years, The Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute has been leading the fight against the menace of cancer with ultra modern treatment arsenal, advanced research, preventive care, palliative care and intense community awareness. It is an amalgamation of specialties in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology, preventive oncology, pediatric oncology, neuro-oncology, gynec-oncology, radio-diagnosis, nuclear medicine, palliative medicine, laboratory and transfusion medicine, onco-pathology and microbiology. GCRI also provides other allied services like home care, hospice care, physiotherapy, stoma clinic, speech therapy, cancer health check-up, prosthesis and rehabilitation. It has a dedicated research wing – Cancer Biology which is exclusively involved in basic and clinical research, research training, teaching and interdisciplinary advanced diagnostic services for patient management.
GCRI is recognized by Govt. of India as the State Cancer Institute (SCI) for the state of Gujarat with additional benefits and added responsibility by extending support to Tertiary Cancer Centers established under GCRI across Gujarat. Currently GCRI is managing Siddhpur, Rajkot and Bhavnagar Cancer Centers.
Department of Palliative Medicine is established in October 2010. Pain management and Palliative care are essential components of comprehensive cancer care. Department of palliative Medicine, GCRI is highly structured department for delivery of care to patient with cancer from diagnosis to death and then into bereavement care for the family. It is an interdisciplinary, multi-dimensional team, comprising doctors, nurses, counselor, physiotherapist, nutritionist, social workers, and volunteers. Palliative Medicine department has facility for In-patient service, out-patient Service, home care service and hospice care service. It is first Palliative care department of Gujarat recognized for MD palliative Medicine with intake of 2 seats per year.
Indian Association of Palliative Care
The Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC) is a registered Public Trust and Society and was formed on 16th March, 1994 in Ahmedabad, in consultation with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Government of India as a national forum to connect, support and motivate individuals and institutions involved in palliative care.
Since then, the IAPC has been working as the National Umbrella organization for Palliative Care in India. It has over 2500 registered life members which includes Individual Members, Institutional Members and Overseas members.
The IAPC has been actively working towards improving the delivery of quality palliative care in India through –
• Implementing palliative care educational programs for health care professionals;
• Creating and organizing awareness programs for the public and society at large;
• Engaging in advocacy with the Government and other relevant agencies both within India and across the world;
• Collaborating with both the Central and State Governments to develop and implement the National and State level palliative care policies to ensure that palliative care is accessible and affordable to those who need it;
• Assist in implementing the amended Narcotic rules to ensure that morphine and other opioids are freely available and accessible to those in need of it.