Territorial availability of opioids in the Universal Palliative Care Program of the Ñuble health network
Análise da equidade no acesso a medicamentos essenciais em cuidados paliativos.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56116/cms.v66.n2.2026.2497Keywords:
Opioids, Palliative Care, Access to Medicines, Public Health, ChileAbstract
Background: Timely opioid access is essential in palliative care. Chile's Law 21.375 and the Universal Palliative Care Program (CPU) expanded these services beyond oncological conditions, increasing territorial demand. Opioid availability in the Ñuble Health Service (SSÑ) network had not been characterized.
Objective: To describe the territorial availability and distribution pattern of opioids for CPU patients in the SSÑ network, using conversion to oral morphine equivalents (OME).
Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study (January–June 2025) based on institutional drug warehouse records (SIGBO) and REM P03. Distribution of transdermal buprenorphine, oral morphine, and injectable morphine was analyzed and expressed as total OME, OME per patient (semester), and daily OME per CPU patient.
Results: A total of 355 CPU patients were registered, with 628,030 mg OME distributed. The regional average was 9.8 mg OME/day/patient. Marked territorial heterogeneity was observed: some communes showed no opioid distribution despite having patients under control, while others exceeded 60 mg OME/day/patient. Buprenorphine predominated over other formulations.
Conclusions: This study establishes a regional baseline, identifies territorial gaps in opioid access, and provides evidence to guide training, prescribing, and logistics actions aimed at strengthening equity in the CPU program.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alejandro Cares Carrasco, Susana Rocha Castillo, Mónica Naveillan Jensen
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