Dr. Hammad Usmani, programme Coordinator said that approximately two-third of patients suffering from cancer experience pain. Most notably, patients are often denied suffi­cient pain medication due to opiophobia (fear of opioids) among doctors, nurses, patients and family members. Equally important is a lack of basic under­standing of palliative care amongst healthcare workers at all levels, a lack of knowledge of symptom control techniques.

 Dr. Usmani said that this symposium is an effort to address the issues of patients suffering from cancer pain and related problems. Dr. Mhoira Leng, Medical Director, Cairdeas International Palliative Care Trust, Aberdeen, United Kingdom along with other international and national faculty will participate in this symposium and guide us to develop a good palliative care setting to improve the overall quality of life of these patients and their family. The symposium will be equally useful for both doctors as well as for nursing staff.