The lives of patients could be transformed if Health Minister James Reilly agreed to have chronic pain classed as a disease, a conference being held in Dublin has been told.

Speakers at the meeting argued that chronic pain should be given the same resources as other major conditions in order to deliver better patient outcomes and cost savings.

"Chronic pain is the most prevalent and most costly health problem in the world that, at the moment, is undiscovered and untreated," Australian chronic pain expert Prof Michael Cousins told the meeting.

"Extensive changes to education, training, attitudes and practice are needed and this should accompany the recognition of chronic pain as a chronic disease."

Chronic pain affects 13% of the Irish population, around 400,000 people, with almost one-in-three of these suffering from severe pain.  In addition, 35% of people say that their pain is not properly managed.

Research has shown that patients with chronic pain want to work and contribute to society yet almost a third worry about losing their jobs as a result of their pain, and 44% worry that it will stop them from progressing in their career.

"By classifying chronic pain as a disease, the Minister for Health would be taking a major step in transforming the lives of sufferers," said Dr Camillus Power, Dean of the Faculty of Pain Medicine at the College of Anesthetists. 

"Currently, pain specialists across the EU are trying to have pain recognised as a chronic disease, in the same way as diabetes or asthma. Ten years ago, Ireland led the way with the smoking ban. The Minister has an opportunity to ensure that he leaves a positive legacy by making us the first in Europe to do this. The cost is nil and there are only benefits. It's a no brainer."