In its report 'Access to Pain Treatment as a Human Right', HRW details the fear of doctors prescribing morphine because it is derived from opium and is a controlled substance, the distribution of which, and access to, is in government hands.

The HRW report states, "The effect of these unnecessarily strict regulations or implementation practices is that pharmacies and health facilities do not procure and stock opioids, that doctors do not prescribe them because of the hassle or fear of criminal sanction, and that prescription is so impractical that many patients cannot realistically obtain them on an ongoing basis."

As usual, it is those in underdeveloped countries that suffer the most from such restrictions, though many in developed countries are also deprived or essential pain relief too, as a result of the War on Drugs.

The World Health organisation says, "However, all these medicines are controlled substances under the international drug control conventions, and are not sufficiently available in many countries, mainly due to 1) greatly exaggerated fears of dependence, 2) overly restrictive national drug control policies, and 3) problems in procurement, manufacture, storage and distribution of controlled substances. It is estimated that over 80 % of the world population has no proper access to controlled medications, due to regulatory barriers, prejudice and lack of proper information at national and international levels."

Sources.

 http://www.hrw.org/en/embargo/node/81079?signature=7a5aaf757671a55616bc4701fb806615&suid=6

 http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/health_check.shtml

 http://www.who.int/hiv/amds/controlmedicine/en/

 http://bbsnews.net/article.php/20090303164823310