OUR ADDRESS:
The Bangalore Hospice Trust (BHT)- Karunashraya, meaning an 'Abode of compassion,' was incepted as a registered charitable trust by the Indian Cancer Society (Karnataka Chapter) and Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar to provide free professional palliative care for advanced stage cancer patients who are beyond cure.
Bangalore Hospice Trust – Karunashraya
Old Airport - Varthur Main Road,
Kundalahalli Gate, Marathahalli,
Bangalore - 56 0037, INDIA
Phone: +91 80 4268 5666, 2847 6133, 2847 6509
E-mail: info@karunashraya.org
BANGALORE HOSPICE TRUST
KARUNASHRAYA
ABOUT US
Karunashraya, meaning ‘an abode of compassion’ is a five-acre haven of lush greenery bird song and peace in the midst of the hustle and bustle of a densely populated and prime location on Old Airport –Varthur Main Road just prior to the Kundalahalli Junction. The building that houses the hospice with it stone exterior is impressive and has won acclaim as one of the most well designed hospice buildings in “20th Century World Architecture - The Phaidon Atlas Buildings Completed between 1900 and 1999”.
PALLIATIVE CARE & KARUNASHRAYA: Cancer is a leading cause of death in India with nearly 3 million suffering from it. WHO predicts that 700,000 people will succumb to the disease on an annual basis by 2015 Nearly 80% of cancer patients in India access medical help when there is no hope forcure!The need for palliative care has never been more critical, especially in Bangalore - the ‘Cancer Capital of India’.
The building architected by M/s Chandavarkar & Thacker is a green marvel. Both the architectural team and the Karunashraya team were ahead of their times in thinking green.
MILESTONE
1993
Karunashraya begins – as an idea.
Four gentlemen discuss establishing a hospice for advanced stage cancer patients in Bangalore.
October 1994
Bangalore Hospice Trust- Karunashraya incepted by the Indian Cancer Society(Karnataka Chapter) and the Rotary Bangalore Indiranagar.
March 1995
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Home Care services commence
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Land is formally leased to Bangalore Hospice Trust by the Government of Karnataka
11 June 1996
His Excellency Governor of Karnataka & patron of Karunashraya, Khurshid Alam Khan lays the Foundation Stone
for Karunashraya
1997-1998
Construction of Hospice
11 April 1999
Karunashraya inaugurated by Justice MP Saldanha and representatives of multi religions
April 1999
Karunashraya begins twinning arrangement with Severn (formerly Shropshire & Mid Wales) Hospice in Shrewsbury, UK, which was instrumental in training two nurses before our undertaking in-patient care. The robust partnership with Severn continues. Every year, a team from Severn visits Karunashraya to spend time with staff and exchange best practices. Return visits by Karunashraya also take place.
1999
Installed rain water harvesting system and immediately started re-charging the borewells. Parallely installed and activated an STP plant for using the recycled water in the garden
1 May 1999
Ist patient admitted to the in-patient facility
1st month of operation: 12 in-patient admissions
21 & 22 May 1999
Continuing education programmes planned under the aegis of
the Rotary Indiranagar and BHT Centre for Palliative Care education had their first programme on ‘Basics of Palliative Care’. It was attended by 25 nurses from around hospitals and nursing schools in Bangalore.