Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash
Following a hearing in a petition filed by Adv. Tamir Blank for PHRI and Lealtar – The Narcotic Patient Support and Assistance Foundation, the Ministry of Health will consider changing the labels printed on the packaging of opioid-containing medications to warn patients about the risk of developing physical dependency.
This does not mean the fight is over, or that the entire medical community is on board, or that the Ministry of Health has become a driving force in the fight, but there was a turning point in the hearing that changed everything, that after which no one could tell us we are wrong. Testifying before the justices of the High Court, Dr. Paula Rushka, the director of the Ministry of Health Substance Abuse Department, said in no uncertain terms: opioids cause physical dependency in all patients, guaranteed! Not could, not might, not some of the patients – certain physical dependency.
Despite the opioid epidemic that has taken many lives, and despite the fact that the efficacy of opioid treatment for long-term pain is unsupported while the risks are serious and proven, the Ministry of Health refused to change the warning label on opioid packaging. Instead, it proposed measures focusing on practices among physicians and in the healthcare system rather than raising awareness among patients.
Throughout the litigation in this case, we made one basic demand: give patients accurate information about opioids, so they can at least make an informed choice. This was why it was hard for us to understand why the Ministry of Health resisted making changes to the label. On the day of the hearing, it was frustrating to see how we and Lealtar – who represent victims of the pandemic, while the Ministry of Health was on the other side, standing with pharmaceutical companies. It was difficult to listen to arguments like ‘the warnings will deter patients who do need opioids’ or that ‘the packaging is too small for a bigger warning.’
With clarifications that physical dependency is certain with opioid use, the justices decided changes to the warning labels should be considered. The fight is not over, but we jumped an important hurdle. We will continue to work with Lealtar until the label is changed to match the facts and until the Ministry of Health takes further measures and sides with the patients for whom it is supposed to care.
