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A Multifaceted Approach to Improve the Availability and Accessibility of Opioids for the Treatment of Cancer Pain in Serbia: Results From the International Pain Policy Fellowship (2006-2012) and Recommendations for Action.
- Source :
-
Journal of pain and symptom management [J Pain Symptom Manage] 2016 Aug; Vol. 52 (2), pp. 272-83. Date of Electronic Publication: 2016 Mar 15. - Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Serbia, and at least 14,000-16,000 patients experience moderate-to-severe cancer pain every year. Cancer pain relief has been impeded by inadequate availability of opioid analgesics and barriers to their accessibility. In 2006, a Serbian oncologist was selected as an International Pain Policy Fellow. The fellow identified barriers to opioid availability in Serbia and implemented an action plan to address the unavailability of oral morphine, attitudinal and knowledge barriers about opioids, and barriers in the national opioid control policy, in collaboration with the government, local partners, and international experts, including those from the World Health Organization. Collaborative efforts resulted in availability of immediate-release oral morphine, registration of controlled-release hydromorphone, and reimbursement of oral methadone for cancer pain; numerous educational activities aimed at changing inadequate knowledge and negative attitudes toward opioids; recognition of opioids as essential medicines for palliative care in a new National Palliative Care Strategy; and recognition of the medical use of opioids as psychoactive-controlled substances for the relief of pain included in a new national law on psychoactive-controlled substances, and the development of recommendations for updating regulations on prescribing and dispensing opioids. An increase in opioid consumption at the institutional and national levels also was observed. This article outlines a multifaceted approach to improving access to strong opioids for cancer pain management and palliative care in a middle-income country and offers a potential road map to success.<br /> (Copyright © 2016 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Fellowships and Scholarships
Health Education
Health Policy
Humans
Palliative Care legislation & jurisprudence
Quality Improvement
Serbia
Analgesics, Opioid supply & distribution
Analgesics, Opioid therapeutic use
Cancer Pain drug therapy
Health Services Accessibility legislation & jurisprudence
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1873-6513
- Volume :
- 52
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of pain and symptom management
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 26988849
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2016.01.005