The Philippines is an example of highly punitive policy against opioid drug users (including a history of summary execution) together with minimal access to opioids for those with severe pain.
CITATION: Opioid use in chronic pain management in the Philippines
European Journal of Pain
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090380101902861
ABSTRACT
The aim of this investigation was to determine current opioid use in the Philippines and the reasons why its use is very low. We surveyed 314 doctors in Metro Manila to determine their specialty, possession of narcotics license, and knowledge of opioid use beyond the terminal stage.... We conclude that actual opioid use in the Philippines is minimal...
Another paper found that 'Government regulatory policies have affected the physicians' attitudes concerning narcotics license application. There is a very slow, though steady increase in morphine and oxycodone usage in the country. Barriers to opioid use in cancer pain management still persist twenty years after the introduction of the WHO analgesic ladder.' https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1754320708600073
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org