 bill no  50 of  2008 the palliative care (education and training) bill, 2008 by shri ck chandrappan, mp a billto provide for the recognition of palliative care as an integral part of health care systemof the country; education and training in palliative care in medical colleges andinstitutions; treatment facilities in hospitals and for matters connected therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the fifty-ninth year of the republic of india as follows:—1 (1) this act may be called the palliative care (education and training) act, 2008short title and commencement5(2) it shall  come into force on such date as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint but which shall not be later than three months from the date of assentdefinitions2 (a) "palliative care" means care given with the intention of improving the quality of life of persons with a terminal illness by—(i) treatment which controls and relieves pain, distress, discomfort or othersymptoms caused by, related to or coincidental with terminal illness; and(ii) psychological, social and spiritual help and support;(b) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under the act; and (c) "terminal illness" means an illness, disease or conditions which,—(i) is inevitably progressive and fatal, and (ii) cannot be reversed by treatment53 (1) on and from the date of commencement of this act, the central government shalltake all necessary steps to recognize palliative care as an integral part of the health care systemcentral government to recognize palliative care10(2) the central government shall issue such directions as may be necessary to theindian medical council to take steps for comprehensive study in palliative care and take such steps as may be necessary to make palliative care an integral part of health care system and medical eduction in the countryformulation of a policy for palliative care4 the central government, in consultation with the state governments, shall formulatea policy for palliative care with a view to create awareness about palliative care and to encourage the non-governmental organizations working in the field of palliative care155 within two years from the commencement of this act, every medical college orinstitution imparting medical education or training shall provide teaching and training of palliative care in such manner as may be prescribedmedical colleges to impart teaching and training in palliative carehospitals to provide palliative care206 (1) within two years from the commencement of this act, every medical institutionor hospital established and run by the central government or a union territory administration shall provide palliative care for persons with terminal illness(2) the state governments shall be informed of the palliative care to be provided topersons with terminal illness in hospitals under clause (1) so that they may also provide for it in the hospitals being run by thempower to make rules257 (1) the central government may make rules for carrying out the purposes of thisact30(2) every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made,before each house of parliament, while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before theexpiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid, both houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both the houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule statement of objects and reasonspalliative care which is aimed at reducing or relieving the pain suffered by the terminally ill patients is not recognized or considered in india as an integral  part of our medical system the palliative care coverage at national level is less than three percent while in the state of kerala it varies between thirty to seventy percent in various districts the state has also formulated a policy on palliative care in a modern society, it is necessary that this system finds its place as an integral part of our medical system with facilities to teach and train the people it is also necessary that the medical colleges provide facilities for teaching and training in palliative carepalliative care is a combination of medical treatment with humane attitude, friendly environment, love and affection for patients who are terminally ill with no possibility of cure such patients could be provided with conditions where they could be relieved of pain if all these are put together, such patients would at least be able to live their last days peacefullya civilized society is expected to have this attitude to the helpless who are fatally afflicted by such disease which has no cure the number of such persons is on the increase now to provide succour to such persons it is necessary that the government should recognize palliative care as an integral part of our health care systemthe bill aims at creating educational and training facilities and institutional mechanism to give a push to palliative care with the provision of assistance to the non-governmental organizations working at grass root level with the help of government institutions including local self-government institutionsthe bill seeks to achieve these objectivesaugust 5, 2008 financial memorandumclause 5 of the bill provides that every medical college or any other institution  imparting medical education or training shall provide teaching and training of palliative care clause 6 of the bill provides that every hospital or nursing home under the central government or the union territory administration shall provide palliative care for terminally ill persons while the expenditure relating to medical institutions under state governments will be met out of the consolidated funds of the respective states, the expenditure relating to medical institutions under the union territory administration and the central government, shall be met out of the consolidated fund of india the bill, therefore, if enacted, will involve expenditure from the consolidated fund of india it is estimated that a non-recurring expenditure of rupees one hundred crore will be involveda recurring expenditure of rupees five crore is also likely to be incurred memorandum  regarding  delegated  legislationclause 7 of the bill empowers the central government to make rules for carrying out the provisions of the bill as the rules will relate to matters of detail only, the delegation of legislative power is of a normal character———— a billto provide for the recognition of palliative care as an integral part of health care system of the country; education and training in palliative care in medical colleges and institutions;treatment facilities in hospitals and for matters connected therewith————(shri ck chandrappan, mp)mgipmrnd—2866ls(s5)—08-09-2008