Amrita’s Story: A lifelong commitment to a Nepal where all people can live and die with dignity

From a three-day basic introduction to palliative care course at Patan Hospital in Central Nepal to Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Amrita Shrestha’s journey has been driven by a lifelong commitment to ensure that people living with serious illness receive compassionate, dignified, and person-centred care.

Amrita Shrestha, Head of Palliative Care at Green Pastures Hospital, was awarded Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Amrita, who is currently Head of Palliative Care at Green Pastures Hospital (GPH) in Nepal, trained as a paediatrician and in 2018 was working at GPH caring for children with disabilities and complex medical conditions when she started to think more about palliative care.

“I found myself increasingly drawn to the emotional, social, and spiritual needs of the children and their families. I realised that while we were treating disease, many families were living with immense suffering and had little support to preserve their quality of life and dignity.

“My motivation is also deeply personal. Losing my father to cancer showed me, not only as a doctor but as a daughter, the profound difference that compassionate, person-centred care can make. Although I was not able to be with him when he died, knowing that he was comfortable, that his wishes were respected, and that my family was supported gave me great comfort. It strengthened my conviction that every person deserves that same quality of care, wherever they live.”

It was this motivation that led Amrita to complete specialist training in palliative medicine, which was supported by EMMS International. This marked a defining moment in her career, firmly establishing her journey to delivering major advances in the development and delivery of palliative care in Nepal, driven by compassionate care.

“My specialist training gave me the knowledge, skills, and confidence not only to provide holistic, person-centred care, but also to integrate developmental paediatrics with palliative care, train healthcare professionals, develop education programs, conduct research, and advocate for palliative care across Nepal.”

“There have been many challenges along the way—limited resources, low awareness, and the task of integrating palliative care into the healthcare system. Yet every challenge has strengthened my conviction that this work matters.”

After completing specialist training, Amrita’s connection with EMMS continued through her leadership of the landmark Sunita Project. The project, which ran from 2022-2025 transformed access to palliative care in West Nepal, laying a firm foundation for more compassionate, inclusive, and equitable care for people facing complex or life-limiting illness. Improved clinical care is now being delivered to more than 14,000 people because of the project, with wider societal benefits reaching over 84,000 people.

Amrita says, “The Sunita Project had a profound impact on me, both professionally and personally. It gave me the opportunity not only to practise palliative care but also to understand what it takes to build sustainable services in a resource-limited setting.

“I found myself working far beyond the walls of the hospital—building partnerships with government, collaborating with other organisations, developing and strengthening a rural model of palliative care, advocating for better access to services, and teaching and mentoring healthcare professionals across Nepal.

“The project showed me that good palliative care is not created by one individual or one organisation. It is built through collaboration, trust, and listening to communities. It also reinforced my belief that every healthcare professional, regardless of their specialty, should have the knowledge and confidence to provide compassionate, person-centred care.

“Most importantly, Sunita Project changed the way I see leadership. I learned that leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about bringing people together around a shared vision and creating opportunities for others to grow. Those lessons continue to shape the way I lead today.

“Although the project has come to an end, I believe its legacy is only beginning. I hope the relationships we built, the professionals we trained, and the rural model we developed will continue to influence palliative care in Nepal. My hope is that palliative care becomes fully integrated into the health system, so that no one is denied compassionate, high-quality care because of where they live or their circumstances.”

In her current role as Head of Palliative Care at Green Pastures Hospital in Nepal, Amrita continues to lead clinical care, education, service development, research and advocacy in palliative care. At the heart of this work is caring for children and adults living with serious illnesses and supporting their families through some of life's most challenging moments, ensuring care is holistic, compassionate, and centred on what matters most to each person.

A particular passion is integrating developmental paediatrics with palliative care, ensuring that children with complex disabilities and life-limiting conditions receive care that supports not only their medical needs but also their development, communication, and quality of life.

Amrita says, “As a doctor, I know there are times when we cannot cure disease, but we can always relieve suffering, preserve dignity, and help people find meaning and comfort. It is often the small things: a child's smile after pain is controlled, a parent's relief when they finally feel heard, or a family finding the courage to have important conversations that remind me why this work matters.

“Every day is different, but my focus remains the same: improving the quality of life of people living with serious illness and helping build a healthcare system where compassionate, person-centred palliative care is available to everyone who needs it.

“What motivates me most is the privilege of walking alongside patients and their families during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives."

“I am also inspired by the possibility of creating lasting change. Every healthcare professional we train, every service we help establish, and every policy we influence means that many more patients and families can benefit from compassionate care. That is what continues to motivate me every day to ensure that no one faces serious illness alone and that every person in Nepal has the opportunity to live, and die, with dignity.”

Amrita’s Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh is recognition of her achievements, although she sees it as a wider acknowledgement of the belief that compassionate, person-centred care is not an optional extra but a part of good medicine.

“For me, this Fellowship is not simply a personal achievement; it reflects the journey of palliative care in Nepal and the many people who have shaped that journey: my patients and their families, my mentors, my colleagues, my family, and organisations including INF Nepal and EMMS, whose unwavering belief in the vision of palliative care sustained me long before it became widely recognised.

“Looking back, being elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh feels less like reaching a destination and more like recognition of a lifelong commitment to ensuring that people living with serious illness receive compassionate, dignified, and person-centred care.

“Above all, this honour strengthens my commitment to continue working towards a future where every person living with a serious illness in Nepal has access to compassionate, high-quality palliative care.”

Reflecting on her relationship with EMMS, Amrita says she will always be grateful for the trust EMMS placed in her and the pivotal role the organisation has played in her professional journey.

“EMMS support extended far beyond funding my fellowship in palliative medicine. They invested in me as a person and believed in my potential to make a lasting contribution to palliative care in Nepal. Through the Sunita Project, I had the opportunity to grow not only as a clinician but also as a leader, educator, researcher, and advocate. The mentorship, encouragement, and opportunities to collaborate with inspiring colleagues have shaped the way I practise medicine and lead today.

“What has meant the most to me is that the relationship did not end when the project ended. EMMS continued to support my professional development. That continued encouragement has reminded me that genuine partnerships are built on long-term relationships, not just individual projects.”

Looking to the future, Amrita remains committed to improving access to palliative care across Nepal working towards a vision where no one is denied palliative care because of where they live or the resources they have.

“Over the years, I have met too many patients and families who have lived with unnecessary pain and suffering simply because they did not have access to the care they needed. Good palliative care should not be a privilege available only in specialised centres—it should be an integral part of every health system and available to everyone who needs it.

“That is why my work has always extended beyond caring for individual patients to training healthcare professionals, working with government, or advocating for policy change. My goal has been to help build a system where compassionate, person-centred palliative care is accessible to all.

“If I could see one lasting change, it would be a Nepal where every person with a serious illness, and every family caring for them, receives the comfort, dignity, and support they deserve, regardless of where they live or their circumstances.

“If the Sunita Project has shown us anything, it is that meaningful change is possible when organisations, communities, and government work together with a shared purpose. EMMS has walked this journey with us, sharing a vision that every person deserves compassionate, high-quality care. I hope the work we have done together will continue to inspire and strengthen palliative care in Nepal for many years to come.”