Eighty percent of the global population has no access to pain relief or to palliative care, and international organisations have repeatedly pointed out that access to pain relief and palliative care are basic human rights.
The Journal is requesting narratives – that is, stories of people’s experience – to focus attention on the need for hospice and palliative care, and thus open the way for changes in policy that could change people’s lives.
The Journal is peer-reviewed and indexed; but has a fast-track system for narratives, so submitted stories can be published rapidly.
Dr M.R. Rajagopal, Chairman of Pallium India and editorial board member of the Journal, said: “It’s amazing how little the developed world knows about the burden of pain and other suffering in the developing world and – much too often – it is the developed world that shapes global health policy.
“We need to get the story of people’s suffering out there for others to hear. The Journal of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacotherapy has such a feature. Write your narrative. Tell your story to the world.”
As of this month (May 2015), the Journal has made all narratives open access. You can visit the Journal’s website to read the stories.
Dr Rajagopal said: “You can see the heart-rending narratives from many parts of the world, stories of needless suffering, stories of how palliative care turned things around for patients with cancer pain, patients with post-traumatic pain and that of a bereaved daughter. Tell your story. You will help to change the world.”
If you have questions, contact Pallium India: info@palliumindia.org
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