E-DRUG: WHA event: Access to Opioid Medicines in Europe and the World (19 May, 18:30)
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Dear E-Druggers,
I would like to draw your attention to the following invitation:
On the occasion of the 67th World Health Assembly, the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care IAHPC has pleasure to invite you for the side-event
Access to Opioid Medicines in Europe and the World:
Findings of the ATOME Project for Eastern Europe and consequences for other countries and for palliative care
Domaine des Penthes, chemin de l’Impératrice 18, 1292 Pregny-Chambésy,
18:30 – 20:00, 19 May 2014
Reception after the event
Co-sponsors: Latvia*, Hungary*, Panama, Romania**, World Health Organization**, European Association for Palliative Care**, Harm Reduction International**, Help the Hospices**, Human Rights Watch and the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance. (* Countries where ATOME is working; ** Consortium Members of the ATOME Program)
Access to opioid medicines is a major problem in most countries around the world. They are necessary for the treatment of moderate and severe pain, for treatment of opioid dependence and for the prevention of blood borne disease, such as HIV and hepatitis C. Although these medicines are considered essential medicines by WHO, these medicines are beyond reach for some 5.6 billion people due to over-emphasis on drug control. In palliative care, access to opioid medicines is the first major problem almost everywhere.
The Access to Opioid Medications in Europe (ATOME) Project (www.atome-project.eu) addressed the inadequate consumption of opioid medicines in 12 eastern European countries by analysing policies and legislation and promoting awareness of the problem among policy makers, health care professionals and the general public. As part of the programme, WHO developed its policy guidelines Ensuring Balance in National Policies on Controlled Substances, Guidance for availability and accessibility of controlled medicines, which is available in 15 languages.
ATOME is funded by the EU 7th Framework Programme and started in December 2009. It is conducted by a consortium of 10 member organizations from 7 European countries (including the Romanian National Anti-Drug Agency, the European Association for Palliative Care, Harm Reduction International, universities and other) and the World Health Organization.
You are welcome to attend the side-event, where the ATOME findings will be discussed as well as what to do to address this problem in other countries.
Programme
Welcome
Professor Dr.med. Lukas Radbruch, President, International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), Chair of Palliative Medicine at the University Hospital Bonn, Germany and Chair ATOME Programme Management Team
Addresses by representatives of the co-sponsors
Problematic access to opioid medicines for pain and treatment of dependence
Willem Scholten, PharmD., MPA.
Consultant – Medicines and Controlled Substances; Former Team Leader, WHO Access to Controlled Medicines.
Opioid Access in Romania - a model legislation
Dr Bogdan Gheorghe, National Anti-drug Agency, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Romania.
ATOME Report: barriers in national legislations and how to overcome them
Professor Dr Marie-Helène Schutjens, Chair of Pharmaceutical Law at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Utrecht University, the Netherlands.
Implications for countries world-wide
Dr Joan Marston, Chief Executive Officer, International Children’s Palliative Care Network, Cape Town, South Africa
Lessons learned from ATOME
Dr Kees de Joncheere, Director, Essential Medicines and Health Products, World Health Organization.
Discussion
Directions
For getting to the Domaine des Penthes, leave the Palais des Nations from the Main Gate (Gate Pregny) and turn right (uphill) into the route de Pregny. Turn right into the first road (chemin de l’Impératrice) and at your left hand side you will find the Domaine des Penthes. Walking distance is 750 m. You can also takes busses F or V from bus stop "Appia" and go off at the second stop ("Penthes") (8 busses per hour). Limited parking space is available.
Kind regards,
Aukje Mantel
Aukje Mantel-Teeuwisse, PhD
Managing director WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulation (www.pharmaceuticalpolicy.nl<http://www.pharmaceuticalpolicy.nl/>\)
Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences | Division Pharmacoepidemiology & Clinical Pharmacology |
PO Box 80 082 | 3508 TB Utrecht | The Netherlands | Tel: +31 6 22736017 or +31 30 253 7324 (secretariat)
Visiting address:
David de Wied building | Universiteitsweg 99 | 3584 CG Utrecht | the Netherlands
"Mantel-Teeuwisse, A.K. (Aukje)" <A.K.Mantel@uu.nl>