Training medical students��� in palliative care and empathy

The training of medical students is a complex process wherein they are expected to master multiple traits required for successful professional practice. Palliative care is an important aspect of the healthcare sector considering that the life expectancy has increased worldwide and now many people suffer from non-communicable diseases at some stage in their life which needs to be managed appropriately. A successful clinician essentially requires empathy compassion and better communication skills. Even though empathy is an innate trait it can be definitely altered through a curriculum that targets teaching-learning and assessment of empathy in a longitudinal manner and thus we have to take specific steps to improve the existing scenario in medical institutions worldwide.