Imphal, September 15, 2026: Dr Lamabam Pinky Devi, Medical Officer at the Manipur University Health Centre, participated as a founding member of the newly established North East Regional Chapter of the Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), which was formally inaugurated at P.A. Sangma Medical College and Hospital, Meghalaya on September 12, 2026.
The regional chapter has been established to strengthen collaboration, professional capacity and access to palliative care across the eight Northeastern states. It brings together healthcare professionals, academic institutions, community organisations and other stakeholders from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura on a common platform.
The formal inauguration was preceded by a day-long academic programme and leadership meeting. Healthcare professionals and representatives from all eight Northeastern states attended the programme.
Dr Pinky Devi’s participation as a founding member of the regional chapter is expected to benefit the Manipur University community through the knowledge, experience and professional connections gained from the regional platform. It can strengthen the capacity of the University Health Centre to respond sensitively to the physical and emotional health concerns of students, research scholars, faculty members and other University employees.
Students and research scholars often face academic pressure, financial difficulties, separation from family and uncertainty about their future. Faculty members and other employees may also experience stress arising from professional responsibilities and personal concerns. The experience gained through the regional network can support greater health awareness, early identification of difficulties and appropriate referral to qualified medical or mental-health professionals whenever required.
The broader principles of palliative care place emphasis on dignity, compassionate communication, relief from suffering and improvement in quality of life. While palliative care does not replace specialised mental-health services, its person-centred approach can contribute to the development of a more supportive and responsive healthcare environment on the University campus.
A healthier and emotionally supportive campus can help students participate more effectively in their studies, enable research scholars to pursue their academic work with greater confidence and assist faculty and staff members in discharging their responsibilities efficiently. Such support can ultimately contribute to improved academic performance, research productivity and the overall institutional outcomes of Manipur University.
Dr Pinky Devi’s participation in the North East Regional Chapter of IAPC, therefore, represents an important opportunity to strengthen the culture of compassionate healthcare and wellbeing within Manipur University.
A key highlight of the programme was a panel discussion titled “Building a Sustainable Palliative Care Ecosystem in Northeast India: Capacity, Community, Institutions and Social Investment.” The deliberations focused on mapping existing services and the available workforce, strengthening professional competencies, building institutional and government partnerships, increasing public awareness and community participation, and developing sustainable financing mechanisms for palliative and home-based care.