The UK welcomes this discussion and believes that it should be an annual part of the agenda, as this is an essential part of the international narcotics control regime.

UK support access to opiates for pain and substitution treatment. UK is supporting a range of international activities to improve access.

Bridging the gap between need and supply is the goal, and therefore this issue must be tracked and monitored by INCB and others. Bridging this gap will require countries to overcome legislative, law enforcement and medical barriers. But this can be done, as Romania has shown.