The International Narcotics Control Board⁹ has published the following figures for the consumption of narcotic drugs in Kyrgyzstan (2004): morphine 1 kg.

A report from the National Cancer Center of the Kyrgyz Republic Health Ministry¹⁰ states that morphine is ‘difficult’ to obtain; slow release morphine is not available; with fentanyl, oxycodone and hydromorphone all ‘quite difficult’ to obtain. There are special prescriptions for morphine and it is ‘strictly registered’.¹¹

There is also a research project on using methods of alternative medicine for palliative care. Acupuncture, clinical thermography and other methods are used. A special atlas that displays the alternative replacement of medicines like promedol, ketonil, realium and other drugs is being prepared for publication.¹²

For the years 2002-2004, the average defined daily dose consumption of morphine for statistical purposes (S-DDD)¹³ in Kyrgyzstan was 3. This compares with other Commonwealth of Independent States as follows: Kazakhstan 4; Tajikistan 0; Uzbekistan 3 (Table 2).

Table 2: Average daily consumption of defined daily doses (for statistical purposes) of morphine per million inhabitants, 2002-2004 Central and Eastern Europe/Commonwealth of Independent States (plus Mongolia)

Source: International Narcotics Control Board Narcotic Drugs: Estimated World Requirements for 2006. Statistics for 2002-2004. New York: United Nations, 2006.