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Dr. Rajagopal M R | Pallium India | Best Researcher Award

Pallium | India

Dr. M. R. Rajagopal is a distinguished Indian physician and global leader in palliative care. He is the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Pallium India and Adjunct Professor of Global Oncology at Queen’s University, Canada. A pioneer of pain and palliative medicine in India, he co-founded the Pain and Palliative Care Society at Calicut Medical College in 1993, which became a WHO-recognized model project. His advocacy and collaboration with the Government of India and WHO have led to significant policy reforms improving access to opioids and pain relief nationwide. Dr. Rajagopal has served as Commissioner for two Lancet Commissions—on Global Access to Palliative Care and Pain Relief, and on the Value of Death. His scientific contributions span numerous journal publications, textbook chapters, and authorship of Walk with the Weary. He serves on editorial boards of multiple international journals. Recipient of numerous national and international honors—including the Padma Shri (2018), John Mendelsohn Award (2018), and D.Sc. (2024)—Dr. Rajagopal’s work has redefined compassionate end-of-life care in India and influenced global health policies. Through Pallium India and his continued leadership, he remains instrumental in training, advocacy, and advancing palliative care accessibility worldwide.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus

Featured Publications

Knaul, F. M., Farmer, P. E., Krakauer, E. L., De Lima, L., Bhadelia, A., Kwete, X. J., Rajagopal, M. R., et al. (2018). Alleviating the access abyss in palliative care and pain relief—An imperative of universal health coverage: The Lancet Commission report. The Lancet, 391(10128), 1391–1454. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32513-8

Radbruch, L., De Lima, L., Knaul, F., Wenk, R., Ali, Z., Bhatnaghar, S., Rajagopal, M. R., et al. (2020). Redefining palliative care—A new consensus-based definition. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 60(4), 754–764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.04.027

Sallnow, L., Smith, R., Ahmedzai, S. H., Bhadelia, A., Chamberlain, C., Cong, Y., Rajagopal, M. R., et al. (2022). Report of the Lancet Commission on the Value of Death: Bringing death back into life. The Lancet, 399(10327), 837–884. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02314-X

Knaul, F. M., Farmer, P. E., Krakauer, E. L., De Lima, L., Bhadelia, A., Rajagopal, M. R., et al. (2018). Alleviating the access abyss in palliative care and pain relief—An imperative of universal health coverage. The Lancet, 391(10128), 1391–1454.

Rajagopal, M. R., Joranson, D. E., & Gilson, A. M. (2001). Medical use, misuse, and diversion of opioids in India. The Lancet, 358(9276), 139–143. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(01)05330-1

Rajagopal M R | Pallium India | Best Researcher Award

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