International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.

Training doctors, nurses and pharmacists to staff local primary care health centres could ease the suffering of patients who otherwise must travel to urban centers to fill prescriptions. Primary palliative care staff can reduce the physical and financial suffering associated with serious medical illness. Our primary care system still lacks some essential palliative care medications. When morphine is unavailable, patients suffer at home. When it is available, it is still unaffordable for those lacking the means to travel to the hospital for refills. Model List medicines we do have, like laxatives, dexamethasone, slow release and oral morphine, often run out. Gabapentin is unaffordable and amitriptyline often contraindicated. Primary health centers need palliative care trained pharmacists, nurses, and physicians to relieve patient suffering.