Bengaluru: Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurated Palliative Care Unit at K.C. General Hospital in Malleswaram here on May 5.

The unit will be operated by Saranam India, a non-profit organisation, which is aimed at catering to those patients who are not responding to treatment and suffering from inexplicable pain and mental stress.

Speaking after inaugurating the facility, Rao said, while such units are opened at four to five places in the city, it will be opened across the State in the coming days. The unit includes expert team attending to out-patients and in-patients, day care department, besides having a Mobile Unit to attend to those residing within 5 to 8 km of the hospital. The training will also be imparted on handling patients.

Palliative Care Unit at K.C. General Hospital has a five-bed ward, which is considered unique, as it would cater to those counting their last days, suffering from cancer, kidney failure and other ailments.

The unit is also beneficial to those having respiratory related ailments, neuro related diseases, mental uneasiness and other health issues. The family members of the patients will also be trained with methods to care them at home.