HRH CROWN PRINCESS KATHERINE ADDRESSES INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON OPIOID DRUGS FOR PAIN TREATMENT AND PALLIATIVE CARE

Belgrade, 19 April 2010 – Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Katherine II addressed the International Symposium on accessibility and usage of opioid drugs for the treatment of pain and palliative care “Two faces of opioids: essential drugs and narcotics”. The symposium was organized by the Ministry of Health of Serbia, and the event was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO), DILS – Project for improving provision of services at the local level, Fund for Open Society in Serbia, Serbian Association Against Cancer, Institute for Oncology and Radiology, Association “Oncologist”, “Bel Hospice”, Association for Research and Treatment of Pain of Serbia and Cancer Section of the Serbian Medical Association (SLD). Dr Elaine Laycock, a long time associate and good friend of HRH Crown Princess Katherine, who has huge experience in this field in the United Kingdom, also joined the symposium in the Serbian Parliament.

The participants and guests were addressed by Dr Perisa Simonovic, State Secretary in the Ministry of health, Dr. Melita Vujnovic, Deputy Director of WHO in Serbia, Prof. Dr Nenad Borojevic, Director of the Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia and HRH Crown Princess Katherine.

HRH Crown Princess Katherine emphasized in her speech: “Every patient has the right of pain relief, of less suffering, more dignity and a better quality of life. I hope you will find answers to many urgent questions, and that you will also benefit from the experience of other countries”.

Many leading international experts from the United States, Switzerland, Romania are participating in the symposium, which is part of Serbian Ministry of Health activities within “Access to opioid medications Europe (ATOME) project”.