CHRONIC pain sufferers need to be able to access appropriate medications without stigma, Australian Labor Party backbencher, Tim Watts, believes.
Speaking in the House of Representatives on Thu, Watts called on the Federal Government to deliver tangible action to improve the quality of life for people living with chronic pain.
"Earlier this year, the Government released the National Strategic Action Plan for Pain Management," he said.
"The plan doesn't set out a time frame for action, nor does it set out any targets. That's not enough.
"Many Australians are suffering now, and they need action now. They need access to GPs and specialist pain services.
"They need access to appropriate medicines without stigma or judgement.
"They don't need that extra burden on their physical suffering---the mental torment of having to plead their case to a doctor and have chemists look down their noses at them while filling their scripts."
Watts added one pain sufferer told him that he felt like a "junkie" asking for a script for suitable medication.
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