Submissions and Policy Updates
Submission to International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) consultation on new definitions of Pain
Painaustralia provided a submission to the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) Proposed New Definition of Pain Consultation.
In 1979, the IASP approved a definition of pain that not only coupled the sensory and emotional dimensions of the experience, but also recognised the association between tissue injury and pain, which remains to this day the current and accepted definition.
Criticisms of the IASP definition include the explicit association of pain with tissue damage, perpetuation of dualistic body–mind thinking and unresolved tension between the primacy of self-report and the privileging of the perspective of the observer.
Historically, pain has been considered as a “symptom of something” — a symptom to be alleviated in the short term while a diagnosis is pursued, or a cure sought for the underlying disease. Researchers now understand that pain may persist beyond the time it takes for damaged tissues to heal, altering the central nervous system in such a way that chronic pain is justifiably classified as a disease in its own right. However, this new understanding of chronic pain has not yet been translated into standard practice across the health care system. Pain remains costly, but under-recognised and under-treated.
The proposed new definition helps to remove the presumption and primarily biomedical association of pain with injury. Accompanying notes also go a step further in explicitly outlining the bio-psycho-social impact of pain.
Painaustralia is supportive of the intention of the IASP to clarify the definition, in particular we strongly support the clear link to biological, psychological, and social factors as included in the accompanying notes.
Along with updating the definition of pain, Painaustralia recommends that it is vital that we work together to ensure that access to best practice interdisciplinary care becomes a reality for the millions of people living with pain everyday around the globe.
TGA consultation on medical devices
An Action Plan for Medical Devices: Workshop on Co-Design Consumer Engagement
The Action Plan for Medical Devices aims to strengthen Australia’s medical device regulatory framework. The Plan sets out a range of actions that continue to improve the safety, performance and quality of medical devices in Australia, as well as enhancing transparency and increasing public confidence in our regulatory system.
The Plan consists of 3 strategies:
Strategy 1: improve how new devices get on the market
Strategy 2: strengthen monitoring and follow-up of devices already in use
Strategy 3: provide more information to patients about the devices they use
Painaustralia participated in the workshop aimed at co-design with consumer/patient peak bodies and representative groups on how best to engage consumers to progress the Action Plan activities, and in particular Strategy 3.
Targeted consultation workshop on enhancements to the listed (complementary) medicines compliance review
Following concerns about the high levels of listed (complementary) medicines non-compliance and the Government’s subsequent endorsement of enhanced post market compliance actions, the TGA are proposing to publish information about individual listed medicines that had been subject to any review, as well as the timing and outcome of the review.
This is intended to:
- provide an incentive for listed (complementary) medicine sponsors to ensure the compliance of their products before they enter them on the Australian Therapeutic Goods Register.
- support consumers to make better informed health decisions by improving the transparency of compliance outcomes.
Painaustralia participated in the workshop to assist to redesign this approach and to ensure it is meaningful for consumers.
Read our blog on complementary medicines here.