Bangalore Hospice Trust (BHT) is a public charitable organisation envisaged by the joint efforts of Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar and the Indian Cancer Society, Karnataka Chapter. Established in 1994, Bangalore Hospice Trust was built with the mission of providing compassionate palliative care for people facing life-limiting illness through quality care, advocacy, research and education. The three ventures of Bangalore Hospice Trust include a 5-acre campus in Bengaluru that houses the hospice Karunashraya and the Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research (KIPCER) and a 20-acre campus in Bhubaneshwar, Odisha, that houses the Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Center (BKPCC).
BHT-Karunashraya, translated as Abode of Compassion, is a 73-bed hospice hidden amidst the bustling life of Bengaluru’s IT parks in India. Spread over a 5-acre campus, Karunashraya has been providing free-of-cost palliative and end-of-life care to over 26,000 terminally ill cancer patients since its inception in 1994. The clinical team consists of 8 doctors trained in palliative care, over 100 nurses and general duty assistants, 7 psychologists and psycho-oncologists, 1 psychiatrist, 2 physiotherapists, volunteers and support staff. The multidisciplinary team at BHT-Karunashraya ensures that the patients and their caregivers receive compassionate care encompassing the physical, emotional, social and spiritual dimensions. Our well-stocked pharmacy ensures the availability of opioids (tramadol, tapentadol, morphine, fentanyl, methadone, etc.) and adjuvants, both injectable and oral, to provide adequate pain management. Our collaborations with various laboratories around Bengaluru ensure timely blood work-ups and management of disease complications, comorbidities management, and management of emergencies in palliative care. Our robust, evidence-based, compassionate approach ensures that patients and their caregivers get the best care possible, in line with national and international standards.
BHT-Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Center (BKPCC) in Bhubaneshwar launched its homecare services in 2021, taking the ethos of Bangalore Hospice Trust outside Bengaluru. To date, it has served over 400 families with holistic care. The upcoming 20-acre campus at Info Valley – II will have 103 inpatient adult and 6 pediatric beds and will be a state-of-the-art hospice in the eastern part of the country.
BHT-Karunashraya Institute for Palliative Care Education and Research (KIPCER) is an integral part of Bangalore Hospice Trust, created with a mission to lead, catalyse, and support education, training, and advocacy activities in palliative care and to create an evidence base for high-quality palliative care that is context and culture-specific. KIPCER runs numerous training programs, both in-house and external, for healthcare professionals and the general public about palliative care. KIPCER also hosts students and graduates from diverse academic backgrounds worldwide, providing them with an in-depth learning experience and practical training in palliative and end-of-life care.
KIPCER collaborates with institutions within and outside India, with a Memorandum of Understanding with premier institutes like Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India; Acharya Harihar Regional Cancer Center, Cuttack; and National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru. KIPCER is collaborating with governments in Karnataka and Odisha to build capacity for providing palliative care. International collaborations include with University of Lancaster, UK, for the ICU-Palliative Care Project and the University of Hull, UK, for the Breathe India Project.
With compassion in action, Bangalore Hospice Trust aims to ensure the highest quality of life for the terminally ill and impact the global palliative care landscape through education, training and research.
For any queries regarding training, research or internships, please email: kipcer@karunashraya.org
To learn more about our organisation visit https://karunashraya.org/
About our Member Spotlight Series
Introducing our Member Spotlight Series, where we shine a light on the incredible work and impact of our member organisations in the field of palliative care. Each installment of this series is dedicated to showcasing the exceptional efforts of one organisation, highlighting their dedication to improving the lives of individuals facing serious illnesses and their families.
Each spotlighted organisation shares a common mission: to enhance quality of life, alleviate suffering, and provide comfort to patients and their loved ones during one of life’s most vulnerable periods. From pioneering advancements in pain management and symptom control to addressing psychosocial needs and spiritual support, our members are at the forefront of shaping the future of palliative care.
Through this series, we not only honor the dedication and expertise of our member organisations but also aim to raise awareness about the importance of palliative care. By highlighting the invaluable contributions of these institutions, we hope to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for the specialised care and support they provide to individuals facing serious illnesses.