In 2010, Nathan Cherney, with colleagues from the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) and the European Association of Palliative Care (EAPC), published work that illustratedm in a startling manner, some of the reasons for differences in opioid access between Eastern and Western Europe. (Annals of Oncology, March 2010; Editorial, Palliative Medicine, 2010).
Moved by the power of this survey, ESMO and EAPC joined with WHO, UICC and PPSGto repeat this for the other under- “Palliative care resourced” areas of the world, collaborating with the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), African Palliative Care Association (APCA), Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network, Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO), Foundation Akbaraly, Madagascar, Help the Hospices, Indian Association of Palliative Care (IAPC), International Association of Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), Japanese Society of Medical Oncology (JSMO), Latin American and Caribbean Society of Medical Oncology (SLACOM), Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP), Malaysian Oncology Society, Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC), Multinational Association for Supportive Care in Cancer (MASCC), Myanmar Oncology Society (MOS), Open Society Foundation (OSF) and the World Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA).
At a Special Session of the 2012 ESMO meeting in Vienna (see presentations below), Nathan presented the raw data that had been collected by observers in country and collated through ESMO. This data again showed the differences across countries and even within countries (the Indian states which were included separately given their population and variability in opioid laws and regulations).
| Africa | Asia |
| Latin America and Caribbean | Indian States |
| Middle East |
This data is now open for your review. Your questions, comments, concerns, disputes are welcome. As Nathan has stated, the quality of this project is dependent critically on the review of the data. As well as discussing points here, you may complete an online peer review form at EAPC.
painpolicy 
The data from Nepal has been presented correctly.
Posted by Pradeep Vaidya | December 8, 2012, 11:29 AMThis is quite important project.
JSMO will collaborate the project and give you a Asian situation by sending all members of JSMO by E-mail.
Posted by Kenji Tamura | December 18, 2012, 9:32 PMThanks Kenji!!
Posted by Pain policy & palliative care | December 19, 2012, 4:48 PMMost of the data on South Africa is presented correctly. However, we have opioids available in the country which are not on the country’s essential drug list or formulary, so access is restricted to those who can buy them at private pharmacies. I cannot seem to reflect this on the form provided to review. If I select “no” for the formulary (for state health care), I cannot indicate the availability in private.
Posted by Charmaine Blanchard | December 18, 2012, 4:20 AMThanks for this. Very good article and it gives me a good insight
Posted by Dr. Lynn Webster | October 23, 2013, 12:29 PM