New Delhi: With less than 1% of patients in India receiving palliative care, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is set to launch a multi-state implementation study to develop and scale up services in the public health system.Palliative care – focused on relieving pain and improving quality of life for patients with serious illnesses such as cancer, neurological disorders and advanced chronic conditions – remains largely out of reach for most Indians.However, the need is substantial. Studies estimate that 6.21 out of every 1,000 people in India require palliative care, which is in greater demand in rural areas and among the elderly. Globally, 56.8 million people need such care each year, the majority of them in low- and middle-income countries.Experts have warned that the burden is sure to increase rapidly. The World Health Organization estimates that chronic health-related suffering will increase by 87% by 2060 due to the aging population and increase in non-communicable diseases.Despite this, access in India remains among the lowest globally due to lack of trained personnel, limited services at the grassroots level, regulatory barriers, and poor integration into the health care system.For families, the impact is severe. This lack of access often results in out-of-pocket expenses and a significant burden on caregivers, especially for patients who require long-term or home-based care.The proposed study aims to develop and test a scalable palliative care model in district hospitals, community health centres, primary health centers and home-based settings, covering patients of all age groups and diseases.It will evaluate whether integrating palliative care into routine health services can improve coverage, reduce symptom burden, reduce hospitalization rates and cut costs for families.ICMR has invited research teams to participate in the study, with the selected groups expected to work with state governments and ICMR to design and implement the model.Public health experts say this initiative could prove to be a turning point. If scaled up effectively, it could help ensure that patients not only live longer but also suffer less.