Palliative and Hospice Care Specialist
Provides relief from the symptoms and stress of serious illness, for the patient and the family.
Overview
Palliative Care is specialized medical care for people living with a serious illness like cancer, congestive heart failure, alzheimer's and so on. This type of care is focused on providing relief from the symptoms and stress of the illness. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the patient and the family. Palliative care physicians are trained to help people manage the physical and social emotional needs.
Where they work
- In-patient palliative care unit
- Hospice
- Community palliative care service (home based palliative care)
- Outpatient palliative care unit
- Day palliative care unit
Work environment
You are likely to work full time in a healthcare setting like a hospice center or hospital. You may have to travel to patients' homes to provide direct care to terminally ill patients who choose to stay at home. Full-time shifts can be anywhere from 8 to 12 hours long, depending on the setting and the specific duties. You are expected to work with a team of other healthcare professionals.
Opportunities for work exist for differently abled in this field.
Skills and interests
This career might suit you if…
- You have a strong desire to help and care for people
- You are comfortable in communicating with others
- You pay attention to details
- You like to analyse problems/situations
Eligibility and education roadmap
Please check the duration of the course during enrolment.
Route 1
- 1Complete 10+2 in the Science stream (Physics, Chemistry and Biology)
- 2Complete a Bachelor's degree (M.B.B.S.)
Alternative route 2
- 1Complete a Bachelor's degree followed by a Master's degree (M.D.) in Palliative Medicine.
Alternative route 3
- 1Pursue a Diplomate in National Board (D.N.B.) in Palliative Medicine (which is a 3-year onsite supervised training program offered at NBE accredited medical colleges/institutions/hospitals in India)
- 2For admissions, you must clear entrance exams such as NEET conducted by NTA, NEET PG conducted by NBE, NEET MDS conducted by NBE, AIAPGET conducted by NTA and so on.
Forms, exams and applications
NEET (conducted by NTA), NEET PG and NEET MDS (conducted by NBE), AIAPGET (conducted by NTA) and similar. Check the official notification for current eligibility and dates.
Exam names above are as printed in the source card. Application windows, eligibility and syllabi change — always check the official notification for current dates.
Where to apply
The course is offered by the Department of Palliative Medicine. This list of institutes is indicative only.
Government institutes
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi
- Gujarat Cancer & Research Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Sawai Man Singh Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan
Private institutes
Please check if the institute is affiliated and accredited before applying.
- Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, Karnataka
- Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Adyar Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
- Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Basavatarakam Indo American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute, Hyderabad, Telangana
These institute lists are indicative examples from the source card, not a ranked or complete directory. Always verify accreditation on the institute's official website.
Career outcomes
Growth path
- 1Intern
- 2Junior Physician, Palliative Care
- 3Physician, Palliative Care
- 4Senior Physician, Palliative Care
- 5Head of the Department
- 6Medical Director/Superintendent
Expected income
₹15,000 – ₹1,00,000 per month and more
The figures are indicative and subject to change.
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Student action plan
What you can do this month
- Read this whole roadmap and note any subjects, exams or institutes you don't recognise yet.
- Talk to a teacher or school counsellor about how your current subjects connect to Science.
- Look for a school club, competition or online course related to helping people.
- Shortlist 2–3 institutes from the list above and check their official website for current admission details.
- Save this career and compare it with 1–2 others you're considering.
Example from the field
Dr. Pankaj Singhai — Completed his MD Palliative Medicine training from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, and currently working at Sri Aurobindo University, Indore. He is also the national faculty of the Indian Association of Palliative Care and is associated with various training programs.
SourceThis profile is shared for training/educational purposes only, as printed in the source card.
Sources and update notice
- Career card source: Exploring Career Paths with Career Cards, Volume 1, printed page 395 (NCERT / UNICEF India / PSSCIVE Bhopal, First Edition, April 2025).
- Income source: https://www.payscale.com/research/IN/Skill=Hospice_Care/Salary
- Last reviewed on this site: 2026-08-21
The printed government list repeats the Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute, Ahmedabad twice (entries 2 and 4); it is listed once here.
Eligibility, fees, exam patterns and admissions change often. Always verify current details on official institute, exam-body or government websites before making decisions.