The contribution of the International Pain Policy Fellowship in improving opioid availability in Georgia

In the Republic of Georgia, the incidence and prevalence of cancer is increasing, signifying a growing need for palliative care and pain relief, including with controlled opioid medicines. As a signatory to the Single Convention, the Georgian government has a responsibility to ensure the adequate availability of controlled medicines for medical purposes, however the consumption of morphine is very low, suggesting a high occurrence of unrelieved pain. In Georgia, palliative care development began in the 2000s including the adoption of a policy document in 2005, the creation of the National Palliative Care Coordinator in 2006 and important changes in Georgian legislation in 2007 and 2008, which served to lay a foundation for improving opioid availability.

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