The inter-ministerial task force that prepared the proposal on prison health advocates transferring responsibility for prison health care to the Ministry of Health and integrating it into the National Health Service (SNS).
The working group was established by order on 5 April last year, to prepare a proposal for an operational plan for health in the context of deprivation of liberty for the period 2023-2030, and has submitted to the government the final report, now published, proposing change to the governance model of health care delivery in prisons.
The document, which was made available on Saturday on the SNS portal, forms the basis for intervention in this context, and calls for the transfer of responsibility for health care in prisons to the Ministry of Health and, consequently, the integration of prison health into the SNS, on a territorial basis the local health unit to which the institution belongs. the prison.
The report, which was contained in a statement by the Ministry of Health, stated that “continuity between health surveillance in the free environment and the prison environment would allow for improved monitoring of chronic conditions, reduce the costs of new tests, and reduce the possibility of the development of resistance.” “For medications, reducing loss to follow-up and even recidivism.”
For the working group, the plan constitutes “an essential public health tool, which will serve the rights and dignity of both prisoners and the community from which they come and to which they will return.”
The proposal is based on six strategic axes: health protection and promotion, disease prevention, access to, retention and continuity of health care, social reintegration, information systems and technology, and the research component.
For each of these axes, a set of inter-sectoral measures is presented, with the aim of improving health indicators and psychological and social integration.
Among the measures, the Ministry of Health highlights the importance of a plan that includes a personal assessment of health needs, conducted by clinical services.
“Access to oncology and infectious disease screening is ensured, a vaccination program is implemented, as well as health promotion and mental health measures,” he says.
It also suggests that each prison institution, “because of the excellence of its practices,” should be recognized as promoting a healthy environment.
Multidisciplinary team
The team, which includes experts from various bodies in the fields of health, justice and science, and a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center at the University of Porto, proposes a gradual transfer of powers from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Justice. Ministry of Health, linked to continuous monitoring based on indicators that make it possible to assess the cost-effectiveness of governance change.
This process should involve a multidisciplinary team, including specialists from relevant health, justice, science, labor and social security entities.
The task force was appointed by the offices of the Minister of Science, Technology and Higher Education, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Justice and the Secretary of State for Health Promotion, following the organization of a WHO conference in Portugal in February 2023 in order to present the first European report on the health situation in prisons.
At this international conference, the national commitment to developing health policies that include all populations, especially in the most vulnerable contexts, and that ensure respect for human rights and access to health at all stages of life, was reaffirmed.
[email protected]With Porto Channel
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
