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UN high level meeting to discuss Non-Communicable Diseases – Ramsammy

Jul 18, 2011 News

The outcome of the United Nations first high level meeting to discuss Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), scheduled for September 2011, could impact the delivery of healthcare worldwide, particularly the distribution of Morphine Pethidine Fentanyl (MPF), says Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy.
He made that revelation yesterday at the Palliative Care and Chronic Pain Management Seminar attended by 200 participants, including healthcare professionals.
The event was held at the Regency Suites, Hadfield Street. Dr. Ramsammy emphasized that much of the need for palliative care is for persons suffering from chronic non-communicable diseases.
Palliative care is an area of healthcare focusing on relieving and preventing the suffering of patients, through the use of the right medications and emotional support.
Ninety percent of terminally ill people in developing countries need palliative care but only 10 percent of the global utilization is in developing countries.
The availability of medications has been a challenge in the provision of palliative care.
Medications dispensed to patients undergoing this treatment are required in three steps, according to the World Health Organization guidelines.
However, medication for the final stage, MPF, is limited by the quota set by the global regulatory authorities, which is controlled by developed countries.
There is a need to review this quota system at the upcoming meeting, Dr. Ramsammy stated.
In 1990, below 10 percent of the people who died in Guyana were 65 and over, while in 2010, almost 40 percent of the persons who died were over 65, demonstrating an aging population and the impact of chronic diseases which means the need for palliative care is increasing, stated Dr. Ramsammy.
He further noted that life expectancy in the last 10 years has gone from 61 to 70. The NCDs, which accounted for less than 40 percent in 1990, now account for than 60 percent of all deaths in Guyana.
Dr. Ramsammy stressed that the lack of resources (mainly financial) is often the reason given in developed and developing countries for the inadequate emphasis placed on palliative care.
Besides the clinical component of palliative care, there is a need for a national policy on such care and training of healthcare professionals.
Guyana does not have a written palliative care policy but the care that should be given to dying patients is enshrined in the Code of Ethics, draft Patient Charter, and is included in the National Formulary, he stated.

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