Dear readers:
Several important things are happening at the international level:
Professor Juan Mendez, the UN Special Rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, recently published a report which refers to the denial of pain treatment as an example of abusive practices in healthcare settings, and calls on governments to protect persons from these practices. In his report Mr. Mendez reminds States of their obligation to regulate, control and supervise healthcare practices in order to prevent mistreatment including ensuring access to pain treatment. A piece about this report was published in the European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC) blog here.
The report can be found here.
International Narcotics Control Board: The INCB has released its 2012 annual report. As per the data reported, the consumption of morphine grew by a factor of more than four between 1992 and 2011. Consumption grew steadily from 10 tons in 1992, reaching 42 tons in 2011. The gaps in consumption levels between countries continue to be very significant as a result of economic, knowledge, regulatory and other factors influencing the use of morphine in the treatment of pain. To read the report, click here.
WHO Global Action Plan on Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs): WHO is now consulting with members states and civil society until March 10th for comments and suggestions to this Action Plan, which will be used to support and develop activities and plans around how NCDs are prevented and controlled at the national and international level. The draft plan is available here and although it mentions palliative care a few times, it still does not recognize it as a component of care. The Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) is leading an advocacy effort along with IAHPC and many other organizations to ensure that palliative care is included.
Prague Charter: Last month, the EAPC in alliance with IAHPC, the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance and Human Rights Watch launched the Prague Charter which urges governments to relieve suffering and ensure the human right to palliative care. As many of you know, in many countries of the world palliative care is not available at all or access to it is very limited resulting in terrible suffering that otherwise could be prevented. This edition includes a piece from Professor Lukas Radbruch about the Prague Charter and a call to individuals and organizations to sign the Charter and join this effort.
We invite you to look at these publications and use them with your governments, policy makers, health providers and NGOs to advocate for improved availability and accessibility of palliative care and to opioids in your country.
On a sad note, a long time friend of IAHPC, Dr. Marco Tullio Assis Figueiredo died last month in Brazil. Marco Tullio was ahead of us, when years ago he started teaching palliative care to undergraduate medical and nursing students in Sao Paulo while we were still focused on specialized palliative care for patients with advanced cancer. This edition of the newsletter features a memorial to Marco Tullio – we send our sympathies to his family and his loved ones.
Until next month,
Roberto Wenk, MD
Chair, Board of Directors
Liliana De Lima, MHA
Executive Director
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