Bagchi Karunashraya in Bhubaneswar offers free palliative care for terminal cancer patients, ensuring dignity, pain relief and compassionate support
OdishaPlus Bureau
When curative treatments reach their limits and the battle against terminal cancer becomes insurmountable, patients and their families often find themselves navigating immense physical pain, emotional trauma and uncertainty. In these moments, palliative care becomes more than a medical service – it becomes a promise of comfort, dignity and compassion. Bringing this much-needed care to Odisha is the Bagchi Karunashraya Palliative Care Centre at Info Valley in Bhubaneswar, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to ensuring that no terminal cancer patient spends their final days in pain or loneliness.
Established through a collaborative effort between the Bangalore Hospice Trust and philanthropists Subroto Bagchi and Susmita Bagchi, the 110-bed centre is one of the largest dedicated palliative care facilities in India.
Guided by its philosophy of “Care with Compassion,” Bagchi Karunashraya provides specialised palliative care completely free of cost for patients with advanced-stage cancer. Beyond medical treatment, it offers counselling, psychological, social and spiritual support, helping patients and their families cope with one of life’s most difficult journeys with dignity.
Explaining the vision behind the initiative, Subroto Bagchi said, “We treat patients suffering from life-threatening diseases with the hope of curing them. However, there comes a stage when treatment is no longer possible and a cure is beyond reach. At that point, what people need most is palliative care. During the final phase of life, they deserve physical, psychological, and spiritual comfort so that they can spend their remaining days with dignity and leave this world in peace.”
Recognising that many patients are more comfortable in familiar surroundings, Bagchi Karunashraya began offering home-based palliative care services even before the completion of the facility.
Highlighting the outreach programme, Bagchi said, “Dedicated teams are reaching out to cancer patients across Bhubaneswar, Khordha and nearby areas. They identify patients whose families are unable to provide adequate care and visit them at home to offer pain management, wound dressing, symptom relief and emotional support. Whenever necessary, patients are brought to the centre for specialised care.”
The idea of establishing Bagchi Karunashraya in Odisha was inspired by the compassionate work of Karunashraya, a renowned palliative care centre in Bengaluru. Recalling the journey, Susmita Bagchi said, “After witnessing the work and the services they were providing, we began thinking about how such services could be brought to Odisha. When we decided to establish a cancer hospital, we also felt that a dedicated palliative care centre was equally essential. Although the organisation had never expanded beyond Karnataka, they agreed to partner with us and establish their first centre outside the state in Bhubaneswar.”
Sharing the story behind the collaboration, Gurmeet Singh Randhawa, Managing Trustee of Bangalore Hospice Trust, said the journey began in 2021 when Subroto and Susmita Bagchi approached the Trust with the proposal to establish a dedicated palliative care centre in Bhubaneswar. Around the same time, the Government of Odisha extended its support by providing 20 acres of land free of cost, while the Bagchis made a significant philanthropic contribution to create the serene campus. “Every service we provide—from medical care and pain management to emotional and psychological support—is offered completely free of cost,” he added.
Looking beyond patient care, Bagchi Karunashraya is envisioned as a centre of excellence for palliative medicine. Elaborating on the long-term vision, Subroto Bagchi said, “It will emerge as an important institution not only for Odisha but for the entire country. Along with providing compassionate care, the centre will focus on research, training and capacity building in palliative medicine. We hope this initiative will reinforce Odisha’s position as a leader in comprehensive cancer care.”
In a healthcare system where success is often measured by cures, Bagchi Karunashraya reminds us that compassion is equally powerful. By easing pain, supporting families and restoring dignity to life’s final chapter, the centre stands as a testament to the belief that even when healing is no longer possible, caring never ceases.
Compassion can make every moment count. Help a loved one access free palliative care, or become a part of this mission through your support.
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