BANGALORE HOSPICE TRUST

Bangalore Hospice Trust (BHT), a non-profit Public Charitable Trust, is a hospice rendering palliative care. It takes care of patients who are in the advanced stage of cancer.

The Need

In India cancer hospitals are overcrowded and preference is given for patients whose disease has scope for control and cure, either through surgery, chemotherapy or radiation or a combination of the three. Several terminally ill cancer patients, on account of poverty, ignorance and total lack of basic facilities, do not receive the required medical and nursing care.

The very nature of the disease causes severe pre-terminal and terminal pain and unless the required dosages of medicines are administered continuously in the right quantities and at appropriate intervals, the quality of the remaining life of the patient is very low. More than 80% of patients come for treatment when the disease has spread to regional nodes or beyond. Lack of awareness, inadequate access to proper diagnostic facilities, sub-optimal economic conditions and fear lead to a large number of patients presenting themselves at an advanced stage of the disease. In fact, in some ways, this stage in the life of the patient is the most critical because he is no longer under active medical (curative) care, and has been discharged from a hospital and sent home where no facilities are available to the patient.

More than 80% of our patients are from the very low economic sections. What does one do when a terminal patient's home is no better than a small shack, in the middle of a slum? What does one do when the bread earners of the family have to go out to earn their daily wage without which the family would starve and there is a terminal cancer patient in the house? These are real circumstances in India.

It is against this background the BHT came into being in 1994, with the aim of improving the quality of life of Advanced Stage Cancer patients. The In-patient facility is appropriately named "Karunashraya" which means abode of compassion.

The hospice provides a total of 50 beds divided between four wards and few single bed rooms. Apart from expert medical care, we have trained counsellors who take care of the psychological and emotional support so badly required for the patient and their families. Individual and group counselling are an integral part of the care provided at Karunashraya. We provide personal care, emotional support, respite care, symptom control, appropriate nutrition, bereavement support and on occasion, financial and legal planning advice. All these services are provided totally free of cost. The building also provides accommodation for full time nursing staff, helpers and other Para-medicals.

Also provided is a service of two home care teams, which is the first of its kind in India. Home care aims to enable patients to live in their own homes for as long as the nature of disease and its symptomatic effects on the patient permit the patient to receive quality care at home. The home care teams comprise of multi-disciplinary nurses and social workers who give palliative care including counselling, to patients and families in and around Bangalore. Here again, the psychological support plays a very important role. The average number of patients under our care at any point of time remains around 50. The Home care service is also provided totally free of cost.

The psychological support given by our counsellors continues to be one of our major strengths. Together, this dedicated team continues to provide solace to the patients, their families, and also to the staff at KARUNASHRAYA, in their times of stress.

A Complete Circle of Care - BHT's unique strength lies in the fact that it provides an entire circle of care to the patient. It begins when an advanced stage patient is discharged from a hospital, when our Social workers step in to educate them about Palliative care and the hospice facility. Depending on the patient’s condition, he or she is attended to by the Home care team or at the In Patient facility. We continue to extend our care to the patients and their families, with the aim of providing peace and dignity in death to the patient.

There are times when the patient’s care cannot be managed at home. There may be need for a medication adjustment, for more skilled care, or for a brief respite for the primary care giver. And those are the times patients and families need Karunashraya. Over the years, we have developed a policy, to discharge patients as soon as their distressing symptoms are under control, and train their family members to look after them at home. This has helped many patients to be at home and near their close relatives as the end draws near. This is again a unique facility we offer, and our patients continue to take the advantage to alternate between their homes and the Hospice.

Caring for an advanced stage cancer patient needs understanding, a certain degree of medical skill, and most importantly, compassion and psychological support. It can often be a traumatic experience for the care givers. Designed to be a home away from home, Karunashraya provides thoughtful touches and compassionate care. Here, patients continue to receive medical attention in warm and comfortable surroundings. Families and friends can feel at ease knowing that their loved one is being cared for around-the-clock, seven days a week. We have offered a holistic care for the patients to fulfil their physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs. Our Doctors, family counsellor, volunteers, nurses and administrative staff are well-trained and sincerely work day in and day out to ensure the best possible quality of life for the patients and his families.

BHT has made a positive difference in the lives of patients who are in the advanced stages of Cancer and their families by providing them an improved quality of life in their last days. Until February 2009, we have cared for 6306 in-patients and 2146 home-care patients.

The Cost

The hospice was built and equipped at a total cost of Rs.300 lakhs which is approximately US $ 600,000 (at present exchange rates of Rs 50/-.).

All this has come from the generosity of individuals, Trusts, Foundations, Corporate donations and a large grant from Rotary International's Health, Hunger and Humanity Program.

The project was inaugurated in April 1999. The annual operating cost of the facility is estimated to be Rs. 100 lakhs (US $200,000).

Funding

Being a Public Charitable Trust, our services are offered FREE irrespective of caste, creed or social status.

We have worked hard to maintain adequate inflows, and keep the operations running smoothly. While the outflows can be projected, income is still highly dependent on donations. BHT’s main funders have been the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, Sir Dorabji Tata Trust, Rotary Club Indiranagar Bangalore and Rotary International. Relatives of our patients have also been instrumental in directing donations. We also accept donations in kind, in the form of provisions, Sheets, Towels, Linen, medicines etc.

BHT is totally dependent on donations from well wishers to continue the services rendered. We welcome contributions, big and small, towards meeting our operating costs.

Donations to Karunashraya are tax-deductible. All contributions are eligible for tax exemption under the following sections of the Income Tax Act: Sec.80G (50% deductible) and Sec.35AC (100% deductible).

We have the FCRA clearance for receiving foreign contributions.

Board of Trustees

Dr. S. N. Simha, Chairman

After 27 years of practice as a General Surgeon, Dr Nagesh Simha now devotes his entire time to Palliative care. He holds a Diploma in Palliative Medicine from Cardiff University and is a certified trainer in Communication Skills. He was instrumental in involving his Rotary Club - Bangalore Indiranagar – as a partner in the formation of Bangalore Hospice Trust.

Mr. Kishore S. Rao, Managing Trustee

Retiring from a 35 year corporate career in 1994, Kishore Rao started working full time to set up and run this hospice for advanced cancer patients. Among the most satisfying achievements of the project, he believes, was that it was possible to influence other like minded Trustees and teams of workers to make a dream come true and to help so many end stage cancer patients and their families.

Mrs. Kala Devarajan, Treasurer

A Chartered Accountant by profession, Kala has 12 years of corporate work experience behind her. Having decided to retire early, Kala now contributes her expertise to the NGO sector. She joined Karunashraya as a volunteer in 1999.

Members

Mr. Ajith Kumar Rai
Sister (Dr.) Aquinas
Mr. Cyrus Unvalla J.
Mr. Gurmeet Randhawa
Dr. Mrs. Latha Jagannathan
Dr. Mary Ollapaly
Mr. Prabhakar Bothireddy
Mr. Praveen Dave
Mrs. Sheila Premkumar