Pain Education in India: Hope or Hype?

Abstract

Pain is known as an uncomfortable, sensory, and emotional experience, which is produced by imitating actual or potential tissue injury. Pain has a more profound effect on a patient’s life than any other neurological perturbation. Realizing the importance of pain, it is now considered the fifth vital sign. The declaration of pain relief as a patient’s basic human right and pain as a disease state reflects the importance of pain relief. Although it is a complex and tedious task, it gives the ultimate satisfaction when a patient’s agony is relieved. This article focuses on the current status of pain education, awareness, challenges, means to improve pain education, encouraging qualified pain specialists, and strategies for fostering growth before a wave of pain overwhelms the nation.