Asian Region

Regional Meeting: Japanese International Corporation for Welfare Services (JICWELS):

Each year since 1993, including in 1997, 1998 and 1999, the Center has participated in the annual seminars on drug control policy and administration sponsored by the Japanese government for national drug regulators from Asian countries. The WHO (Mr. Tokuo Yoshida) sponsored Mr. Joranson as a Temporary Advisor for participation in the JICWELS seminars in Tokyo. The Center provided a presentation on the obligation of government, and the policy and methods for ensuring availability of opioids for medical and scientific purposes. Monographs prepared for these seminars are available on the Center's website: (www.medsch.wisc.edu/painpolicy).^38-40

The Center conducted a study visit for WHO to Indonesia in July of 1997 to work with colleagues from the Ministry of Health National Cancer Control Committee, Dr. Soetomo Hospital (a WHO Demonstration Project for the development of palliative care and opioid availability), Dharmais Cancer Hospital, the Indonesian Cancer Society, the Indonesian Cancer Foundation, and the Pembinaan Kesejahteraan Keluarga (a national Indonesian women's health and community advocacy organization). The National Committee, the Demonstration Project and the Center have been collaborating on ways to expand the use of opioids in hospitals and also for home care.

During this visit, the Center participated in several educational seminars for health professionals and site visits. The Center arranged for the visits of Dr. Judith Paice and Dr. James Cleary to assist with presentations on pain physiology, opioid pharmacology, pain assessment and pain management.

Following this visit, the Center recommended a plan of action to the Indonesia National Cancer Control Committee. The reply from Indonesia was favorable, indicating that the proposal would be submitted to the government. However, the proposed program has not been implemented due to a lack of funds and a crisis in the country.

	38.	Joranson DE. Availability of opioid analgesics in Asia: progress, problems, recommendations. University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group/WHO Collaborating Center for Policy and Communication in Cancer Care. Presented at the 14^th Study Programme for Overseas Experts on Drug Abuse and Narcotics Control; Tokyo, Japan; 22 June-16 July 1999 (Monograph).
	39.	Joranson DE, Gilson AM, Nelson JM. Opioid availability in Asia. University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group/WHO Collaborating Center for Policy and Communication in Cancer Care. Presented at the 14^th Study Programme for Overseas Experts on Drug Abuse and Narcotics Control; Tokyo, Japan; 28 June 1999 (Monograph).
	40.	Joranson DE, Smokowski PR. Selected trends in opioid consumption for medical purposes. University of Wisconsin Pain & Policy Studies Group/WHO Collaborating Center for Policy and Communication in Cancer Care. Presented at the 11^th Study Programme for Overseas Experts on Drug Abuse and Narcotics Control; Tokyo, Japan; 19 June-17 July 1996 (Monograph).