The project will enhance the capabilities of healthcare professionals across 14 states, marking the largest reach of an SIF project in a partner country to date.

Kochi, Kerala, India – Business Wire India The Singapore International Foundation (SIF), in partnership with Pallium India, today launched the Singapore-India: Palliative Care Accessibility Core Training (PACT) project. This collaboration to enhance the quality of palliative care services across India marks an important milestone in the 30-year friendship between the SIF and India to uplift and empower communities.

PACT will bring together a multidisciplinary team of Singapore International Volunteers (SIVs), including specialists in geriatrics, palliative and family medicine, music therapy, and adult education. They will partner healthcare professionals from 14 Indian states to enhance the full spectrum of palliative care services in clinical and non-clinical areas. In 2026, a Leaders Roundtable convened by the SIF and Pallium India will provide PACT participants with a platform to engage Indian healthcare leaders on policy and systemic changes. They will also have the opportunity to visit Singapore on a study trip and participate in an online symposium with the wider Indian healthcare community.

The SIV team will be led by Dr Ramaswamy Akhileswaran, Senior Palliative Medicine Consultant at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital’s Department of Geriatrics, who has volunteered with the SIF for over 16 years. Together, they will also equip all 30 PACT participants with training and mentorship skills, empowering them to share knowledge with peers and medical students in their respective states.

The PACT curriculum will include: • Managing complex symptoms in palliative care; • Caring for non-cancer patients with renal, respiratory, cardiac, and neurological conditions; • Embarking on advance care planning and enhancing communication skills for palliative and end-of-life care; and • Supporting allied health specialists including medical social workers, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, music therapists, and pastoral care workers.

Dr Akhileswaran said: “Providing holistic care is about addressing not just the physical needs of patients, but also their emotional and psychological wellbeing. I am grateful for this opportunity to share knowledge with my peers in India, and to learn from them in return. Together, we can enhance palliative care services and bring greater comfort to those in need.” The launch event at the Indian Medical Association Cochin Branch in Kerala was officiated by Mr Janadas Devan, SIF Chairman and Mr Binod Hariharan, Chairman and Trustee, Pallium India. Distinguished guests included Mr Edgar Pang, Consul-General of the Republic of Singapore in Chennai; Dr Mohanan Kunnummal, Vice Chancellor, Kerala University of Health Sciences; Mr Junaid Rahman, former President, Indian Medical Association and Chairman, Arike Home Care; and Dr Athul Joseph Manual, Co-Founder, Arike Home Care and Medical Officer, National Health Mission in Kochi.

Mr Hariharan said: “This new collaboration with the Singapore International Foundation is an exciting step in enriching palliative care in India. By providing training that encompasses both clinical and supportive aspects of palliative care, we hope to offer more holistic support to patients, their families, and the community at large. The shared learning and friendships forged through PACT will strengthen efforts to provide more comprehensive and compassionate care.” Mr Devan said: “The relationship between Singapore and India is a strong and enduring one. Over the past three decades, the SIF has worked closely with Indian communities to enhance education and healthcare standards in more than 20 projects. A key strength of our approach lies in our specialist volunteers who have dedicated their time and expertise to supporting these SIF projects, working alongside our friends in India, in a spirit of mutual learning and collaboration. Their shared commitment has been instrumental in creating positive impact and uplifting lives. We will continue to further strengthen our partnerships to develop impactful solutions for a better world.” The PACT project is the SIF’s fifth palliative care initiative, building on the success of projects in Indonesia and China. They are Palliative Care for Children (2009–2012) and Enhancing Palliative Care Practice (2015–2018) in Jakarta, Enabling Palliative Care Trainers (2019–2021) in West Java, and Enhancing Palliative Care (2019–2022) in Yunnan. It contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) with a focus on target 3.8 to ensure access to quality essential healthcare services, as well as Goal 17 (Partnerships for Sustainable Development).

Note to Editor For more details of the SIF’s 30-year collaboration with India, please refer to the Annex.

About the Singapore International Foundation The Singapore International Foundation aims to build eco-systems to catalyse change for a better world. We bring together people from the public, private, and philanthropic sectors across countries to harness the collective strength that is needed to address shared environmental and social challenges. Our work is focused in the areas of climate, digital, education, health, justice, and youth. We believe that cross-boundary collaboration is critical to foster sustainable solutions in an interconnected world. Find out more at www.sif.org.sg.

About Pallium India Pallium India is an NGO operating in Trivandrum, Kerala. Pallium India has been providing care to patients with life-limiting illnesses with an objective of relieving serious health related suffering in India for over 21 years. It provides medical, psychological, social and economic support to such patients and their families. It strives to demonstrate palliative care, to educate professionals and the public, and facilitate palliative care services across India. (www.palliumindia.org) Annex 30 Years of the SIF in India Since 1995, the SIF has partnered with Indian communities in over 20 healthcare and education projects to share expertise and build capabilities for long-term impact. These projects unite specialist volunteers from Singapore’s healthcare and education sectors with their Indian counterparts, fostering collaboration and the exchange of experiences. Their collective efforts and shared commitment to improving lives are key to the success of every project.

The SIF’s healthcare projects include the Enhancing Maternal and Child Health Services (EMCH) in Tamil Nadu to strengthen maternal and neonatal care. The first phase (2015–2018) trained over 1,000 local practitioners, benefiting more than 100,000 pregnant mothers and contributing to reduced maternal mortality rates in the state. Building on this success, phase two began in 2021 in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Department of Health and Family Welfare and SingHealth. This ongoing phase focuses on further enhancing the skills of Maternal and Child Health professionals in managing obstetric and neonatal emergencies and high-risk pregnancies.

In education, the SIF collaborated with Parikrma Humanity Foundation on the Mathematics and Science Curriculum Enhancement Project in Bangalore (2018–2023), supporting educators in refining their teaching methods to encourage more interactive and critical thinking-based learning. Through peer exchange and training, educators explored new ways to make Mathematics and Science lessons more engaging using practical tools and everyday objects. This project benefited approximately 60,000 students and educators in Karnataka, strengthening efforts to enhance education outcomes.

Through projects like PACT, EMCH, and the Mathematics and Science Curriculum Enhancement Project, the SIF continues to foster cross-border collaborations that empower communities, uplift lives, and inspire a better, more sustainable world.

To View the Image, Click on the Link Below: The Singapore International Foundation (SIF) and Pallium India launched the three-year Singapore-India: Palliative Care Accessibility Core Training (PACT) project in Kochi, India (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire India and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR