Hyderabad, October 14, 2026: Sparsh Hospice celebrated its 15th anniversary on Wednesday, marking a milestone as India’s first hospice to receive accreditation from the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers (NABH). The event, attended by around 200 people, was addressed by Telangana Minister for Revenue, Housing, and Information & Public Relations, Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who assured full government support and praised the institution’s 15 years of service to patients and families.
Since its founding in 2011 by the Rotary Club of Banjara Hills, Sparsh Hospice has provided palliative and hospice care to approximately 17,000 patients and their families, with nearly 90% of beneficiaries receiving services free of cost. The institution currently operates an 82-bed facility, serves around 200 patients, and employs nearly 100 staff members, with a monthly operating expenditure of about ₹50 lakh funded largely by donations.
Milestones and recognitions
During the anniversary event, Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy unveiled the NABH accreditation plaque and presented Sparsh Hospice with the GuideStar India Platinum Certification, which the institution has received for the 10th consecutive year. Sparsh Hospice was also recognised among India’s Top 500 Credible Non-profits.
Other dignitaries present included Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary, Government of Telangana; Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman and Managing Director of AIG Hospitals; Dr. G. V. Rao, Director and Chief of Surgical Gastroenterology at AIG Hospitals; Dr. M. Subrahmanyam, Founder Trustee of Sparsh Hospice; and Jagadish Babu Ramadugu, Founder Trustee and MD & CEO of Pragati Finserv. Trustees, Rotary Club of Banjara Hills members, and hospice staff also participated.
Living Will Digital Vault launched with Microsoft
Sparsh Hospice launched the Living Will Digital Vault, developed in partnership with Microsoft, to help individuals document and access their medical wishes. The hospice is home to South India’s first Living Will Clinic, an initiative started last year to provide a space for people to discuss and record healthcare preferences. Jagadish Babu Ramadugu explained that the digital vault aims to make the process of creating and updating a Living Will more accessible and secure.
Expansion and partnerships
The hospice has recently inaugurated an eight-bed neuro-palliative care unit and collaborates with the Indian School of Business (ISB) to explore scaling up palliative care services in Hyderabad and beyond. In education and advocacy, Sparsh Hospice has trained 257 individuals in palliative care. About 10% of patients who can afford to contribute are charged nominal amounts to support the institution’s sustainability.
Leaders highlight commitment to care
Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, who has visited the hospice three times, commended its commitment to serving people during the most difficult phases of their lives and reiterated government support for its needs, including water-related issues. Jayesh Ranjan praised Sparsh Hospice for maintaining high standards of quality while offering free services and welcomed the Living Will Digital Vault initiative. Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy called the hospice’s philanthropic work “unparalleled” and urged the government to help promote its model nationally.
Dr. M. Subrahmanyam described the 15th anniversary as a historic milestone and said the NABH accreditation recognised the quality and standards of the hospice’s palliative care services.
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