ABSTRACT
Access to pain control medication remains a distant reality for millions of people around the world,1 especially those in developing countries and particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.2 This is no different in Uganda, which suffers from large treatment gaps. In 2011, public debates revealed that the World Health Organization (WHO) urged the Ugandan government to increase the accessibility of palliative care services, including pain control medication for the Ugandan population.3 A recent study demonstrates that Uganda’s consumption of opioid analgesics (opium-containing painkillers, including morphine) is only 0.18 per cent adequate.4 Affected patient groups mainly include cancer patients, HIV/AIDS patients, or patients suffering both diseases.
