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Opioid availability and palliative care in Nepal: influence of an international pain policy fellowship.
- Source :
-
Journal of pain and symptom management [J Pain Symptom Manage] 2015 Jan; Vol. 49 (1), pp. 110-6. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Apr 21. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- Globally, cancer incidence and mortality are increasing, and most of the burden is shifting to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where patients often present with late-stage disease and severe pain. Unfortunately, LMICs also face a disproportionate lack of access to pain-relieving medicines such as morphine, despite the medical and scientific literature that shows morphine to be effective to treat moderate and severe cancer pain. In 2008, an oncologist from Nepal, one of the poorest countries in the world, was selected to participate in the International Pain Policy Fellowship, a program to assist LMICs, to improve patient access to pain medicines. Following the World Health Organization public health model for development of pain relief and palliative care, the Fellow, working with colleagues and mentors, has achieved initial successes: three forms of oral morphine (syrup, immediate-release tablets, and sustained-release tablets) are now manufactured in the country; health-care practitioners are receiving training in the use of opioids for pain relief; and a new national palliative care association has developed a palliative care training curriculum. However, long-term implementation efforts, funding, and technical assistance by governments, philanthropic organizations, and international partners are necessary to ensure that pain relief and palliative care become accessible by all in need in Nepal and other LMICs.<br /> (Copyright © 2015 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Health Services Accessibility legislation & jurisprudence
Health Services Needs and Demand
Humans
Internationality
Legislation, Drug
Morphine therapeutic use
Nepal
Palliative Care legislation & jurisprudence
Poverty
Analgesics, Opioid therapeutic use
Fellowships and Scholarships
Health Services Accessibility statistics & numerical data
Palliative Care methods
Palliative Care statistics & numerical data
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-6513
- Volume :
- 49
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of pain and symptom management
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 24768596
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2014.02.011