Dear HIFA colleagues,
Thank you for your inputs to date. Here are our final two questions for your consideration:
9. WHAT ARE THE CURRENT NATIONAL POLICIES IN YOUR COUNTRY?
Addressing the problem of opioid misuse requires balanced policies that prioritize both control and public health. The following are invited for analysis:
- What policies currently exist in your countries?
- Which policies have proven effective? Are they being implemented effectively?
- Which policies have proven ineffective or harmful?
- Do public health professionals and policymakers have adequate knowledge to prevent and treat opioid use disorders in their country?
- What are current national policies and what more can be done to fully implement those policies?
Key aspects include:
- Balancing drug control with access to treatment
- Supporting policymakers to implement evidence-based policies
How can policymakers be supported to deliver evidence-informed policy and practice to address the opioid crisis?
10. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT CURRENT REGULATIONS ARE AFFECTING THE APPROPRIATE TREATMENT OF PEOPLE WITH CHRONIC PAIN FOR WHOM OPIOID USE IS INDICATED?
A critical challenge is preventing restrictive policies from hindering appropriate pain management. The following questions will be discussed:
- Do current regulations limit access to opioids when indicated?
- When is their use justified?
- What does the “right to pain relief” entail?
- How should patients with pain and a history of opioid use be managed?
Background document: https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/articles/Opioids-10Qs.pdf
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