President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo designated the National Hospice and Palliative Care Council of the Philippines (Hospice Philippines) as one of the major conduits of the Department of Health (DoH) in the distribution of morphine.

This was contained in Proclamation No. 2016 recently signed by Mrs. Arroyo. As one of the DoH conduits, Hospice Philippines is authorized to supply morphine, a pain reliever, to terminally-ill patients of its duly accredited members across the country.

To recall, the DOH began a regular procurement program of morphine to supply pain medications to patients with chronic and terminal illness last year.

In tapping Hospice Philippines, the proclamation cited the progress it has achieved in forming, uniting and networking with hospice and palliative care institutions in the country as well as networking with similar institutions abroad, cooperating with the Philippine Cancer Society in its cancer program.

Launched by the Philippine Cancer Society in 2004, Hospice Philippines, which seeks to promote and coordinate various hospice and palliative care institutions as part of its cancer care program, has worked effectively with the health department in the distribution of morphine in the last six years.

"Hospice Philippines, as an umbrella organization of hospice and palliative care service providers of the country, is in a position to provide accessibility of morphine to patients of its accredited members, afflicted with cancer and other life limiting diseases, subject to compliance of accredited member firms with the licensing requirements of the appropriate government agencies on the dispensation of regulated drugs," the proclamation read.