Dr. M. R. Rajagopal awarded The Hindu Businessline Iconic Changemaker Award 2026.

For decades, Dr. Rajagopal has championed the right to live with dignity, freedom from needless suffering, and access to palliative care for all. His work has helped place palliative care on the healthcare agenda and, more importantly, brought the voices and needs of people living with serious illness to the centre of care. Stepping into its 8th successful year, businessline Changemaker Awards was conceptualised to recognise and reward the extraordinary thinkers and achievers of our times whose work has positively impacted the world. We're delighted to share that Dr M R Rajagopal, founder of Pallium India, has been honoured with the Iconic Changemaker Award at the businessline Changemaker Awards 2026 — recognition for over three decades of work expanding access to palliative care in India. The award was presented in New Delhi, with Honourable Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman as chief guest who handed over the award. The award was received on behalf of Dr. Rajagopal by Ms. Poonam Bagai ( Founder Chairman - Cankids Kidscan & Vice Chairman, Pallium India) Dr Rajagopal's journey began in 1993 with the Pain and Palliative Care Society in Kozhikode, and led to the founding of Pallium India in 2003. His advocacy has shaped national policy — from Kerala's landmark 2008 Palliative Care Policy to the 2014 amendment of the NDPS Act, which eased legal access to morphine for pain relief — and helped build the National Programme for Palliative Care. Today, that vision lives on through Pallium India's training programmes, which have reached doctors, nurses, volunteers, and caregivers across 59 cities, and through our continued work ensuring no one faces serious illness — or dies — in avoidable pain. This recognition belongs as much to our partners and supporters as it does to Dr Rajagopal. Thank you for standing with us in this mission. #changemaker #india #palliativecare #icon #newdelhi #thehindu #businessonline #trivandrum #kerala #award