July 18, 2015 (Houston TX) – The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC) has launched the second round of Opioid Price Watch (OPW), a project to monitor and report the dispensing price of opioids around the world. This project is as a component of the agreement of work as an NGO in formal relations with the World Health Organization (WHO). This project was funded with a seed grant from the US Cancer Pain Relief Committee.
IAHPC developed and implemented a pilot in 2013 to test OPW and reported the information collected on the availability, prices and affordability of 5 opioids (fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, and oxycodone) in 13 formulations. The pilot project was completed in 2014 and the report published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management available free to all (Open Access). The published report presents data on availability, dispensing prices and affordability submitted by 30 participants from 26 countries.
Using the data on availability and dispensing prices, IAHPC calculated the affordability of a one 30 day treatment of morphine and developed a Google map housed in the IAHPC website.
In this second round, individuals from all over the world will be collecting data on the availability and dispensing prices of opioids and submitting it to IAHPC. Individuals interested in participating in this second round of OPW will receive three months of free IAHPC membership!
To participate in this exciting project and take advantage of a unique opportunity to be part of a strategy to increase awareness about access to pain treatment around the world, or to learn more about OPW contact Dr. Sammi Ebtesam Pharm D., OPW coordinator opwproject@gmail.com