The government of each WHO Member State has a responsibility to establish a national policy and programme for pain relief and palliative care. Policy elements include measures to:
- ensure that the palliative care programme is incorporated into the existing health care system;
- ensure that health workers are adequately trained in cancer pain relief and palliative care;
- ensure that equitable support is provided for programmes of palliative care, particularly in the home, and revise national health policies if necessary;
- ensure that hospitals are able to offer appropriate specialist back-up and support for home care;
- ensure the availability of opioid, nonopioid, and adjuvant analgesics, particularly morphine, for oral administration.
- Access to controlled medicines