Letter to the Editor: Improving Opioid Availability

Dear Editor, 

We would like to update readers of the Indian Journal of Palliative Care about methods that have been developed for improving availability of opioid analgesics for palliative care, particularly since these methods have roots in India. 

We all share the vision that essential medicines like oral morphine and other opioids should be readily accessible for the relief of moderate to severe pain, particularly for people with cancer, HIV/AIDS and other chronic diseases. However, the tragedy of living and dying in unrelieved pain continues every day in India and throughout the world because pain is a low priority in healthcare, opioids are feared, and unduly strict government regulations block patient access to needed medication. 

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