The home minister has asked the authorities and drug producers to make morphine pill 'available' for the patients seeking 'multi-disciplinary' palliative care. Experts say terminally ill patients experiencing excruciating pain and discomfort need morphine tablet for their comfort, but in Bangladesh the drug is scarce as local drug makers are reluctant to produce it due to its low price and the department of narcotics listing it as 'sensitive.'
Opening the services of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University's 'Centre for Palliative Care', Shahara Khatun on Saturday said they were not aware of the need of oral morphine pill earlier.
"We have no idea how much helpful it (morphine tablet) is. The (morphine) injection is used for addiction that's why morphine is under sensitive list," she said when vice-chancellor Pran Gopal Datta drew her attention in this regard.
Extolling Bangladesh's drug industries' global reputation, Shahara urged all drug makers to make morphine tablet, which as of today only a company manufactures in the country.
"It's not desirable that morphine will be scarce in a country with reputed drug industries," the home minister said.
She acknowledged that due to unavailability patients were not getting the tablet despite doctors' prescription.
The minister also emphasised on opening palliative care services across Bangladesh.
Doctors, social workers, occupational therapists and psychologists work in a team in palliative care.
"It (palliative care) focuses on symptom management, psycho-social support, and assistance with decision-making that usually offer comfort to the terminally ill patients," said Prof Nezamuddin Ahmad, coordinator of the BSMMU Palliative Care Project.
Nezamuddin said it was very important to help the patients and their family adapt to the situation.
"They need to be prepared for all the sufferings from the time the disease gets diagnosed, and during the treatment."
He said palliative care reduces use of aggressive treatment measures towards the fag end.
"The use of drugs for relieving pain is also a crucial part of palliative care. The drug (morphine) should be made available at a cheaper rate," he said.
Though it has long been a part of all terminally-ill patients across the world, the concept has evolved in Bangladesh only in 2007.
Rotary Club of Metropolitan, Dhaka has extended their support to build the just-opened Centre for Palliative Care.
"We will help poor patients here," the Club's president Syed Tahsin Haque said, adding at least next three-years they (poor patients) would get free treatment.
"Palliative care is very much effective in a resource-starved country like Bangladesh where many people do not see a doctor until the disease becomes incurable," David Praill, co-chair, World Palliative Care Alliance, told bdnews24.com while visiting Bangladesh in Jan.
Speaking at the function, pro-vice-chancellor Mohammad Shahidulla suggested involving community people to make the best use of the new concept.
bdnews24.com/nih/jr/1321h.
Source: bdnews24.com
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