Afghan opium has legitimate use: NHS doctors

There's a shortage of diamorphine (aka heroin) in British hospitals right now, and NHS doctors are asking why the British and American governments are continuing their futile poppy-eradication schemes instead of buying up the plentiful Afghan supply. Such an action would have benefits not only for the NHS in alleviating the diamorphine shortage, but for the farmers, who will have a legitimate commercial use for their crop without the risk of having foreign soldiers burn the crops that form the basis for their livelihood.

I've often wondered what it is that prevents Afghanistan's crop of opium poppies from being utilised by the pharmaceutical industry when numerous western nations have their own growing operations, which probably result in a more costly product. It appears to be straight out protectionism, only in the case of Afghanistan the farmers don't have their own government on their side. Rather, it is on the side of the US and UK because they are the ones pulling the strings.