In Russia, hundreds of thousands of cancer and other patients in severe pain are denied adequate pain relief due to a repressive drug control system, a stifling bureaucracy, a lack of proper training of medical professionals, and national attitudes toward pain. Many of these patients are children. However, only very few of them are lucky enough to be under the care of a quality pediatric hospice such as the Lighthouse, where patients can receive all the necessary help and medication. In most cases getting pain medication is a solitary fight of the patients’ parents and relatives. They need to make multiple visits to various doctors and officials, collect countless forms, seals, and signatures to prove their children's right to receive pain relief and care. When fighting for access to pain medication and other drugs, the patients’ parents and relatives often face the risk of being charged with drug trafficking. However, there is a growing movement by families, charitable foundations, journalists, activists and volunteers to try to ease access to pain medication for patients at the state level.
All images (c) Alexander Zemlianichenko Jr for VICE
