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"Left behind in pain"- Inequalities in access to palliative care reported by WHO

Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy

June 29, 2023 at 11:04:41 AM

Access to quality health care, palliative care, quality of life, WHO

Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy

  • A report, titled “Left behind in pain” was recently published by WHO, which deals with unequal access to morphine for medical use.  

  • This is often referred as “one of the most heinous, hidden inequalities in global health”. This difference in median consumption of morphine ranges from 5-63 fold between high and low-income countries.

  • Steps to reduce this inequality consist of : 

  1. Providing a package of essential medicines for palliative care.      

  2. Improving governance.        

  3.  Providing stable funding.         

  4. Training of healthcare workers for safe and timely access to morphine for those in need should be advocated for improving the quality of life.

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