Italy was criticized at a
conference in Pisa on Thursday for having fallen far behind
other nations in pain treatment.
The conference focuses on pain therapy and the most
important experts on the subject at the national level are
taking part.
Domenico Gioffrè noted that "Law 38 of 2010 did not live up
to the expectations of those who thought it would be enough to
enshrine a right to be treated for pain and in the final phases
of life with access to palliative treatment".
He added that the law had changed little and that "there
are not nearly enough high-level facilities able to provide
services using innovative technology. This is why those ill
continue to migrate towards specific, well-known hospitals in
the center-north."
Italy, the conference noted, "is at the bottom of the
rankings in terms of use of effective opioids in severe pain
treatment, and spending on this analgesic pharmaceuticals is
four times less than non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicine.
Spending in Italy is 1.60 euros (per capita, Ed.), while the
average in Europe is almost 5 euros and in Germany about 10
euros".
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