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Health in Armenian Prisons: General Picture

Health in Armenian Prisons: General Picture. Artur Potosyan Yerevan, Armenia. Mobile: +37491 209633 www.antidrug.health.am antidrug@health.am. Current Situation: Overview of Armenian Prison Service.

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Health in Armenian Prisons: General Picture

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  1. Health in Armenian Prisons: General Picture Artur Potosyan Yerevan, Armenia Mobile: +37491 209633 www.antidrug.health.am antidrug@health.am

  2. Current Situation:Overview ofArmenian Prison Service - Governed by the Criminal Executive Department of the MoJ (since 2001)- 15 establishments (including Central Hospital for Prisoners)-4 types of CEE:closed, semi-closed, semi-opened, opened- 3007 prisoners as of Dec 20, 2006

  3. Health impairment risk factors:Prisoners as a target group (1) - Concentration of people related to crime- Highly marginalized status and stigma- Depression and other mental issues- Underestimation of self-health

  4. Health impairment risk factors:Prisoners as a target group (2) - Transmission of BBI (poor knowledge on HIV/Hep/TB etc, risky behavior: :: substance abuse: 5-36%, :: sharing of injecting supplies: 70-100% :: sharing of tattoo equipment: 62% :: homosexual patterns: 9.7%. - Hygiene/Sanitary conditions

  5. Recent Developments:Penitentiary reform started in 2001 - Transferof authorities(from the MoI to the MoJ)- Circumstances: a.CEPA Opinion No. 211 (2000) b. Armenia’s accession to the CoE on 2001-Reason:the need to demilitarize and humanize the Armenian penitentiary system

  6. The nature of the Reform:Twopillars 1. The reorganization of the institutional frameworkArmenian Prison Service governed by the Criminal Executive Department of the MoJ. 2. A legislative reviewCarried out by the Department of Legal and Judicial Reforms of the MoJ

  7. Legislative Review:Key laws adopted 1. Law on the Status on the PenitentiaryService - enacted in 20012. Law on the Treatment of Arrestees and Detainees - enacted in 20023. Criminal Executive Code - enacted in 2003 4. Law of Penitentiary Service - enacted in 20035. Ministerial Decrees, including the Internal Regulation for Pre-Trial DetentionFacilities

  8. Health services in Prisons:Key actors Carried by separate units of CED of MoJ:1. Medical Service Unit2. Socil-Psychological-Legal Support Unit

  9. Health services in Prisons:Personnel/Medical Staff - Central Hospital for Prisoners (about 80)-Medical and SPLS representativesin other 14 establishments: avg. 6

  10. The scope of Med. ServicesCentral Hospital for Prisoners Hospital (inpatient) care:-Dep. of General Surgery- Dep. of General Therapy- Dep. of Psychiatry- Dep. of Narcology- Dep. of Infection diseases- Dep. of TB - Stomatology Unit - Dep. of Diagnostics/Lab- Dep. of Radiology

  11. The scope of Med. ServicesOther establishments Mainly ambulatory (outpatient) care, some have few beds - General therapeutic service- Ambulatory (“small”) surgical service- In some places- stomatological service

  12. Recent improvements:“On-ground” pluses - Centralized purchase of a wide scope of medical/lab equipment and medicines- Harm Reduction initiatives (SEP in 4 places)- Renovation of some medical premises and fully refurbishment of some buildings (TB)- “Patient” approach prevails over “Prisoner” - Prisoners recognize their rights- Other factors positively impacting of “overall wellbeing” of prisoners

  13. Still existing Gaps/Challenges:Minuses we have - No structural links to the MoH and other health/med institutions (e.g. NIH) - Lack of specialists - No continuous educational/development programs for personnel - Poor medical monitoring/QA system - Still there are “out of date” medical instruments, kits and equipment - Lack of services available or scope of existing services

  14. References - WHO Europe: Status Paper on Prisons, Drugs and Harm Reduction (May 2005)- Amnesty International: Armenia. Conclusions and Recommendations of the United Nations Committee against Torture- Report On the Activities of the Public Monitoring Group at the Detention Facilities of the Penal Services of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia 2005 Thank you for your attantion!

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