Postoperative Analgesia in Russia: Clinical and Organizational Aspects

Abstract

This review addresses the issue of postoperative pain relief in Russian medical institutions and provides the analysis of the causes of inadequate administration of the opioid analgesics that lead to inadequate pain relief in patients who undergo operations. In Russia opioid analgesics are hard-to-reach even for incurable patients with oncological diseases and chronic pain syndrome. In order to improve the situation with the postoperative pain relief in Russia wide discussion of this topic is necessary. Poor availability of effective analgetics for patients is caused by administrative barriers within the medical institutions. These barriers are the consequence of the present system of reporting and control of narcotic analgetics administration and usage in Russia. This system is based on the strict requirements of Federal Service of the narcotics control and related orders and directions of Ministry of Health that block the appropriate administration of opioid analgetics by physicians. All these prescriptions must be coordinated with authorities. This situation contradicts with international principles of supply of patients with acute and chronic pain with analgetics. These principles are secured by official documents and publications by UNO, WHO and International Narcotic control Board (INCB) which are available in Russian on the INCB website cited in the article.