Mumbai (Maharashtra) — RusanMed, an initiative by Rusan Healthcare, has released the findings of its latest Independent Survey on Pain Management in India, shedding light on the pressing challenges and systemic gaps that continue to impede effective pain care delivery in the country, reports 24brussels.

Conducted in 2025, the survey reached out to 1,000 medical professionals across India, with 746 doctors responding, marking a significant rise from 350 respondents in 2024. The survey aimed to understand, from the medical community’s perspective, the barriers, unmet needs, and possible pathways to strengthen pain management in India.

Nearly 44 percent of respondents strongly agreed that pain management should be recognised and formalised as a dedicated medical speciality within the healthcare system. The survey revealed that lack of awareness, limited education, and the absence of specialised pain clinics were seen as the primary obstacles to effective pain care. Approximately 44.4 percent of doctors identified lack of awareness and education as the biggest barriers, while 34.6 percent cited the lack of specialised pain clinics as a major concern. Participants highlighted critical factors for improving the state of pain care, with 46.6 percent emphasizing the need for structured education and training programmes, comprehensive pain management centres, public awareness initiatives, and evidence-based clinical guidelines.

Another significant issue that emerged was delayed health-seeking behaviour at the patient level. About 47.3 percent of doctors reported that patients often delay seeking assessment for their pain, while 30.2 percent stated patients always delay seeking treatment. Access to pain management services in rural and underserved regions remains severely limited, as over half of the respondents (52.3 percent) felt that such services were mostly unavailable or inadequate. Additionally, 30.8 percent reported that services were only partially available. The top gaps identified included a lack of trained healthcare professionals (52.8 percent), insufficient patient awareness (48 percent), and absence of dedicated pain clinics (43 percent). This has led to a trend of patients migrating to urban centres for pain relief.

The survey also revealed that a critical concern is the lack of awareness and access to appropriate pain management options, which often leads patients to self-medicate. A significant number of patients attempt to manage pain independently before consulting a doctor, with 31.9 percent of physicians indicating this happens often, 31.8 percent saying sometimes, and 27.3 percent stating it occurs almost always. Only 12.1 percent reported that patients rarely self-medicate. The most common choices for self-medication included over-the-counter oral analgesics (69.6 percent), pain balms or topical applications (49.3 percent), and herbal remedies (39.1 percent). Consequently, most individuals consult professionals only when pain intensity escalates—51.6 percent do so when their pain reaches a severity of 7-8 on the pain scale.

Interestingly, telemedicine has emerged as a potential solution for addressing rural pain management gaps. About 41.3 percent of respondents rated it as effective, with another 20.1 percent categorizing it as very effective in extending pain care access to underserved areas. The survey also indicated that multimodal therapy (47.6 percent) and patient education and counselling (36.7 percent) were considered the most successful pain management strategies by the participating doctors. Suggestions to enhance access and awareness in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities included local training programmes for general physicians (38.2 percent), establishing regional pain clinics (36.6 percent), and securing government support for affordable pain medications (35.9 percent).

Despite the growing need, many doctors are hesitant to pursue pain management as a speciality, citing a lack of formal training opportunities (40.2 percent), perceived low financial viability (39.4 percent), and limited institutional support in managing chronic pain cases.

Commenting on the survey findings, Mrs. Malavika Kaura Saxena, Chief Marketing Officer of Rusan Healthcare, stated, “At Rusan, we have always believed that pain management is not just a clinical issue but a pressing public health priority. Through this one-of-a-kind nationwide survey by RusanMed, we sought to capture the real voices of doctors across India and highlight the systemic challenges they face in addressing pain. The overwhelming participation of over 746 specialists this year underscores the urgency of the matter and the need for structured solutions. We hope these insights will spark dialogue among policymakers, healthcare providers, and stakeholders to bring pain management to the forefront of India’s healthcare agenda. Our commitment is to continue enabling knowledge, driving awareness, and fostering collaborations that can improve access and outcomes for patients everywhere.”

The participation spanned multiple pain specialities, including anaesthesia, pain and palliative care, orthopaedics, gynaecology, neurology, and surgery, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current state of pain care. Respondents came from various geographic locations, with 42.1 percent from Tier 2 cities, 40.1 percent from Tier 1 cities, 14.6 percent from Tier 3 towns, and 6.4 percent from rural areas. Most respondents were affiliated with private institutions and nursing homes (70.8 percent), while 16.4 percent belonged to corporate hospital chains, and 11.3 percent were from government institutions. The majority had between five to ten years of clinical experience (33.9 percent), followed by those with 11 to 20 years (23.9 percent) and less than five years (23.3 percent).

About Rusan Med
Rusan Med is a dedicated knowledge and awareness platform led by Rusan, aiming to emerge as a prominent advocate in discussions around various therapeutic segments, including pain management, addiction treatment, and Parkinson’s disease. The platform offers a comprehensive range of educational resources and products meticulously designed to cater to the diverse needs of patients and caregivers.