Archive · 22 Sep 2026
Pallium India Founder Honored for Expanding Palliative Care
Dr MR Rajagopal received an award for helping improve palliative care.
Palliative care helps people feel less pain and live with dignity during serious illness.
He believes healthcare should care for a person’s body, mind, social needs and spiritual well-being.
Poonam Bagai accepted the award for him.
She said Rajagopal helped her understand the difference between curing illness and healing herself.
He founded Pallium India in 2003.
His work also supported new policies, training and research in palliative care.
These efforts helped more doctors, nurses, volunteers and caregivers provide support to patients.
His advocacy also helped improve legal access to morphine for pain relief.
Dr MR Rajagopal won the Iconic Changemaker award at the businessline Changemaker Awards 2026.
The award recognized his contribution to expanding palliative care and integrating relief from suffering into healthcare.
Poonam Bagai accepted the award on Rajagopal’s behalf and highlighted his focus on physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being.
Rajagopal founded Pallium India in 2003 after helping establish the Pain and Palliative Care Society in 1993.
His work contributed to Keralam’s 2008 palliative-care policy, national standards, a 2012 national programme and improved legal access to morphine in 2014.
- Who
- Dr MR Rajagopal, founder of Pallium India, received the award; Poonam Bagai accepted it on his behalf.
- What
- Rajagopal won the Iconic Changemaker award for expanding palliative care and integrating relief from suffering into healthcare.
- When
- The award was presented at the 2026 businessline Changemaker Awards; the article was published on September 22, 2026.
- Where
- The award was presented through the businessline Changemaker Awards; Rajagopal’s initiatives have operated across India, including Keralam.
- Why
- He was recognized for decades of work in palliative-care policy, education, research, outreach and access to pain-relief medicines.
- Award
- Iconic Changemaker award
- Award event
- businessline Changemaker Awards 2026
- Recipient
- Dr MR Rajagopal
- Award accepted by
- Poonam Bagai, Vice-Chairman of Pallium India and founder chairman of CanKids
- Pallium India founded
- 2003
- Keralam policy
- Palliative Care Policy shaped in 2008
- Training reach
- Training programmes and virtual modules reached doctors, nurses, volunteers and caregivers across 59 cities
- Medicine-access reform
- The 2014 amendment to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act helped improve legal access to morphine