Apr 04 2025 to Apr 04 2025 6:30 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

With life expectancy at 67.3 years, India’s elderly population now stands at 149 million (10.5% of the total). Despite their growing health vulnerabilities—ranging from chronic diseases to mental health concerns—this group remains largely overlooked in policy and public health discourse, which continues to take a disease-centric approach rather than addressing holistic wellbeing.

Ageing is shaped by cultural, economic, and social factors beyond biology and medicine. Are we adopting Western-style care models dependent on financial resources, or can we develop contextually relevant alternatives? How do inequalities of class, gender, and region impact access to care? What can we learn from India’s palliative care experiences to create integrated, community-driven models?

This discussion brings together experts to explore key challenges such as social isolation, shifting family structures, mobility constraints, and digital exclusion—critical but often neglected aspects of ageing in India.

Dr. M R Rajagopal, Chairman Emeritus of Pallium India and Dr. Arvind Kasthuri, Head of the Geriatric Unit at St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru will share their thoughts on the topic. A Q&A with the audience will follow.

Speakers

M R Rajagopal
Chairman Emeritus, Pallium India
Dr. M R Rajagopal is the Chairman Emeritus of Pallium India and an Adjunct Professor of Global Oncology at Queen’s University, Canada. An anaesthesiologist and intensivist-turned-palliative care physician, his efforts led to the amendment of India’s NDPS Act (2014) and the formulation of Kerala’s Palliative Care Policy (2008) and India’s National Palliative Care Strategy (2012).

Recognized globally for his contributions, he received the Alison Des Forges Award from Human Rights Watch (2014) and the Padma Shri, India’s third-highest civilian honor (2018). His work was also the subject of the Australian documentary Hippocratic: 18 Experiments in Gently Shaking the World (2017).

His memoir, Walk with the Weary: Life-changing Lessons in Healthcare (2022), reflects his belief in balancing compassion with competence in medicine. In his free time, he enjoys walking and reading.

Arvind Kasthuri
Head, Geriatric Unit, St. John’s Medical College, Bengaluru
Dr. Arvind Kasthuri is the Head of Unit at St. John’s Geriatric Centre and Professor of Community Medicine at St. John’s Medical College, Bangalore. A faculty member since 1993, he has contributed to over 30 research papers and has played a key role in community health initiatives across India.

His interest in elderly healthcare led to the launch of the Senior Citizen Health Service (SCHS) at St. John’s, which provides rural geriatric clinics, home health services, and senior centers. SCHS received the IAPSM “Best Practice” Award (2020) and a Government of Karnataka Certificate of Appreciation, while St. John’s Medical College was honored with the Vayoshreshtha Samman (2021) for its work with the elderly.

Currently, he leads the St. John’s Geriatric Centre, a 150-bed standalone facility dedicated to elder care, training, research, and community engagement. A passionate teacher, he has won the Pioneer’s “Teacher of the Year” Award four times.

Beyond medicine, he is deeply involved in musical theatre through the CAUSE Foundation and the Kiara Silver Chorale, performing annually since 1997. His TEDx talk, That Other Thing You Do, is available on YouTube.