MAHE to inaugurate Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre at Havanje on April 30

Manipal Academy of Higher Education inaugurates Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre, offering free palliative care services starting July 2025.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) will inaugurate Manipal Hospice and Respite Centre (MHRC) at Havanje village near Manipal on April 30, said Pro-Chancellor H.S. Ballal on Saturday, April 26. Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer will inaugurate the facility.

Mr. Ballal told reporters at Manipal that the initiative by MAHE is free of cost and the clinical services begin from July 2025. It aims to be a one-stop destination for compassionate holistic palliative care by providing comprehensive hospice and respite care to patients and their families facing serious and life-limiting illnesses.

The facility would operate with support from multiple partners, including Kasturba Medical College, Kasturba Hospital Manipal and Indian Association of Palliative Care offering specialist palliative care by a multidisciplinary team of trained palliative medicine physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers and other support team. Several corporates and non-profit organisations contribute to its funding, Dr. Ballal said. MHRC is situated 4.5 km from KMC and 4 km from NH 66 on a 12 acre green campus nestled along the banks of the Swarna.

Mr. Ballal said, ”Our commitment has always extended beyond education and research to encompass the values of empathy, dignity, and humanity. The idea behind creating this unique facility that combines medical excellence with a nurturing environment is to provide an ecosystem of compassion and patient-centric care for those facing life-limiting conditions.”

MAHE Vice-Chancellor Lt. Gen M.D. Venkatesh said, “MHRC is a path-breaking initiative that advances our mission to deliver specialised, empathetic, and academically rooted healthcare. As the only hospice in India affiliated with both a medical college and a tertiary hospital, it is uniquely positioned to provide advanced palliative care while serving as a training ground for future caregivers. The services are entirely free of cost to patients and families facing serious and life-limiting conditions.”

Pro Vice-Chancellors Sharath K. Rao and Narayana Sabhahit, COO, N.S. Raviraj, Registrar Giridhar Kini and others were present.