Der Schmerz
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In spite of the fact that the treatment of pain is highly developed, outpatient care of patients suffering from chronic pain is frequently insufficient. In particular general practitioners often refrain from prescribing the necessary pain therapy with opioids. Because of the contract regarding medical treatment, however, the patient has a legal claim to adequate pain treatment, if necessary by administration of opioids. ⋯ Now that the legal and administrative conditions for prescribing opioids have been consolidated, the main objective is to exhaust the possibilities of prescription for the benefit of patients suffering from pain in a better way. This is first and foremost, an organizational and technical task of the medical professional group. In particular, training and continuing education in the field of pain therapy must be further developed without delay.