Is there a global shortage of poppy-based medicines such as morphine?
A. Yes. The actual global need for painkilling medicines is not reflected in official measurements of market demand. In particular, because most of the worlds population still has little access to painkilling medicines, the actual need for morphine remains largely unmet. Official figures from the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) show that just a handful of wealthy countries consume the great majority of the global supply of poppy-based medicines.
