Armenia Blocks Essential Drugs, Patients Die in Pain

Thousands of patients with advanced cancer in Armenia suffer from avoidable, severe pain every year because they cannot get adequate pain medications. While effective, safe, and inexpensive pain medications are available in Armenia, most patients and their families face insurmountable bureaucratic barriers to getting them, in violation of the right to health.

The lack of palliative care has a devastating impact on people with advanced cancer and their families. There is an overall lack of palliative care services in Armenia, and the government has overly restrictive regulations in place for getting strong pain medication. Ingrained practices among healthcare professionals impede adequate pain relief, and there is a lack of training and education of healthcare professionals in palliative care.