UNITED NATIONS: The International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) warned an estimated 5.5 billion people worldwide have limited or no access to pain relief medications, Xinhua news agency reported.
A report released Tuesday shows around 92 percent of morphine used worldwide is consumed by only 17 percent of the world population.
“Governments have an obligation to address the discrepancy in the availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific purposes,” said associate UN spokesman Vannina Maestracci.
Natural disasters and armed conflicts can further limit access to essential medicines.
Under international humanitarian law, parties to armed conflicts have to allow access to medicines and medical care for civilians in territories under their control.
INCB is the independent and quasi-judicial control organ for the implementation of the UN’s drug conventions. –BERNAMA