 bill no 49 of  2015 the palliative care (education and training) bill,  2015 byshri om prakash yadav, mp a billto provide for 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 therewithbe it enacted by parliament in the sixty-sixth  year of the republic of  india  as follows:—short title and commencement1 (1) this act may be called the palliative care (education and training)  act, 2015(2) it shall come into force on such date, not being later than three months from the date of assent, as the central government may, by notification in the official gazette, appoint 2  in this act, unless the context otherwise requires,—definitions5(a) "palliative care" means care given with the intention of improving the qualityof 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 this act; and (c) "terminal illness" means an illness, disease or condition 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 shall take all necessary steps to recognize palliative care as an integral part of the health care systemcentral government to recognize palliative care10(2) for the purposes of sub-section (1), the central government may direct the indian medical council to take such steps, as may be necessary, for comprehensive study in palliative care and to make palliative care an integral part of health care system and medical education in the countryformulation of a policy for palliative care4 the central government, in consultation with the state governments, shall formulate a 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 care15 5 every medical college or institution imparting medical education or training shall, within a period of two years from the date of commencement of this act, provide teaching and training of palliative care in such manner as may be prescribedmedical colleges to impart teaching and training in palliative care hospitals to provide palliative care6 (1) every medical institution or hospital established and run by the central government or a union territory administration shall, within a period of two years from the date of commencement of this act, provide palliative care to persons with terminal illness20(2) the state governments shall be informed of the palliative care to be provided to persons 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 rules7 (1) the central government may,  by notification in the official gazette, make rulesfor carrying out the purposes of this act2530(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 the expiry 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 towards those persons who are afflicted by diseases which have no cure 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 institutionsthe bill seeks to achieve these objectivesnew delhi;om  prakash  yadavfebruary 9, 2015 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 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 recognition of palliative care as an integral part of health care system of thecountry; education and training in palliative care in medical colleges and institutions;treatment facilities in hospitals and for matters connected therewith————(shri om prakash yadav, mp)