International Pain Policy Resources

Readers please note: For an overview of the fundamentals of international opioid control policy, read International control of opioids for medical use by Carmen Selva, published in the European Journal of Palliative Care, 1997: 4(6) 194-198.

Additional resources can be found at:

The goal of the Pain & Policy Studies Group/WHO Collaborating Center is to improve the availability and use of opioid analgesics, especially morphine and other strong opioids, for the treatment of pain due to cancer, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, and consistent with international drug control treaties. This can be accomplished through education and by adjusting national drug control policies, administration and infrastructure to not only control opioids, but also to ensure their adequate availability for medical purposes.

These changes can occur through a national process of information exchange and cooperation between health professionals and their government to assess and address unmet medical needs. We assist in countries which can serve as models. Our role is to contribute a body of knowledge, help to develop national expertise and to monitor outcomes.

Our activities include providing information, facilitating communications, and providing technical assistance. For example, we provide palliative care groups and regulators with authoritative information about opioid policy and the need for changes; we promote information exchange and communication between health professionals and regulators about medical needs for opioids; we provide technical assistance to identify barriers to pain relief as well as progress to remove them; we analyze national policies and make suggestions for change; we report on progress to improve access to opioid analgesics and overall changes in opioid consumption. The Group periodically sponsors fellowship programs for select individuals who will contribute to the process of change in their countries or region.

World Health Organization Publications

• Cancer Pain Relief, Second Edition, With a guide to opioid availability, World Health Organization, 1996. [Ordering information]
• Availability of Opiates for Medical and Scientific Needs, United Nations: International Narcotics Control Board, 1995. [Note: This file is in Adobe Acrobat format (*.pdf), and will automatically download when you select it at the INCB website. To read it, download a free copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader.]
• Report: Model Guidelines for the International Provision of Controlled Medicines for Emergency Medical Care World Health Organization: Programme on Substance Abuse. 1996.
  
  

• Latin America: Opioid Analgesics for Cancer Pain Relief: A Review of Consumption Trends and the Literature
• Asia: Opioid Analgesics for Cancer Pain Relief: A review of Consumption Trends and the Literature
• Europe: Opioid Availability: Diagnosis and Treatment of Regulatory Barriers
• General:To what extent has the WHO Analgesic Ladder influenced morphine consumption in the world?

| About the PPSG | US Pain Policy Resources | International Pain Policy Resources | Cancer Pain Release | 
Glossary | Bibliography | Related Links |  Search | Feedback |