OPIOID AVAILABILITY IN LATIN-AMERICA - THE SANTO-DOMINGO REPORT - PROGRESS SINCE THE DECLARATION OF FLORIANOPOLIS

The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that opioid analgesi cs are insufficiently available, particularly in developing countries, due to a variety of reasons, including legislative, educational, and polity issues. In its effort to promote the rational use of medical op ioids and the adequate treatment of patients with cancer, WHO has spon sored a meeting of Latin American representatives every 2 years, which includes health professionals and government regulators. During March 24-27, 1996, a group of 86 representatives of cancer pain relief and palliative care programs from nine Latin American countries met in San to Domingo under the auspices of the WHO Palliative Care Program for L atin America. For the first time since the First Latin American Meetin g, government regulators were present to help address the issue of opi oid availability from their perspective. During the meeting issues per taining to cancer pain, opioid availability, and palliative care were discussed. This report summarizes some of rite events and presents a s ummary of the conclusions of an earlier meeting in 1994, as described in the Declaration of Florianopolis, and presents its follow-up. The S anto Domingo Report, generater following the 1996 meeting. (C) U.S. Ca ncer Pain Relief Committee, 1997.