Malabar Group has partnered with the Institute of Palliative Medicine (IPM), Kozhikode, to launch Malabar Care Connect, a new initiative aimed at expanding access to palliative care through digital platforms, community engagement, training, and knowledge-sharing. The collaboration marks a significant step towards making quality palliative care services more accessible to underserved and resource-constrained communities.

The partnership was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Malabar Group and the Institute of Palliative Medicine at a function held at the IPM campus in Kozhikode. The MoU was signed by M. P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, and Sreekumar PC, Institute of Palliative Medicine, in the presence of Nishad A. K., Executive Director, Malabar Group, members of the Malabar Group leadership team, and officials from the Institute of Palliative Medicine.

Recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Institute of Palliative Medicine is widely regarded as a global model for community-based palliative care. As the training and research arm of the Pain and Palliative Care Society, it has played a pioneering role in advancing palliative care education, service delivery, and community participation, while supporting healthcare professionals and institutions across India and internationally.

Malabar Care Connect has been conceived as a technology-enabled platform that combines care delivery, education, training, and public awareness. The initiative will leverage digital infrastructure, including an audio-visual helpdesk, teleconsultation facilities, video conferencing systems, a recording studio, and an online learning platform to improve access to palliative care services and knowledge resources.

The project will be implemented in phases. Initial activities will include live video, audio, and teleconsultation support for patients and caregivers, educational programmes for the public, and structured awareness initiatives aimed at building greater understanding around caregiving, bereavement, chronic illness, and end-of-life care. The platform will also support certification programmes for healthcare professionals and training initiatives for caregivers and volunteers.

An important component of the initiative is its global knowledge-sharing capability. Through collaboration with the Global Palliative Doctors Network, which connects more than 800 doctors across 70 countries, Malabar Care Connect will facilitate discussions, training programmes, and professional exchanges that contribute to the advancement of palliative care practices worldwide.

The initiative also includes plans to create a digital archive of patient life stories, preserving personal narratives and experiences as part of a broader effort to document the human dimensions of care and illness. The infrastructure for Malabar Care Connect has been established with support from the Indian Institute of Architects Kerala Chapter and the Bengaluru-based Samagata Foundation.

As part of the collaboration, Malabar Group employees will have the opportunity to participate as trained volunteers within the palliative care ecosystem. Volunteer programmes will include sensitisation and training modules focused on empathy, patient support, caregiving practices, and community engagement.

Commenting on the partnership, M. P. Ahammad, Chairman, Malabar Group, said:

Palliative care is ultimately about preserving dignity, comfort, and human connection during some of life’s most challenging circumstances. The Institute of Palliative Medicine has built a model that has earned recognition far beyond India, and we are privileged to partner with an organization that has contributed so significantly to this field.

Through Malabar Care Connect, our objective is to help expand access to care, strengthen caregiver support, and use technology to make knowledge, training, and assistance available to more people. We see this as a long-term commitment towards building stronger systems of care within society.”

Dr. Suresh Kumar, Founder Director, Institute of Palliative Medicine, said:

“Access to palliative care remains a significant challenge for many individuals and families. Malabar Care Connect creates an opportunity to extend both care and knowledge to larger sections of society through digital platforms and community participation. We appreciate Malabar Group’s commitment to supporting an initiative that has the potential to strengthen palliative care delivery and training at multiple levels.”

Malabar Care Connect is envisioned as the first phase of a long-term collaboration between Malabar Group and the Institute of Palliative Medicine. By combining IPM’s expertise in palliative care with Malabar Group’s commitment to social impact, the partnership aims to create scalable initiatives that address emerging community care needs while strengthening awareness, education, and access across the sector.