Developing a screening instrument for mental disorders in 2018 should be positively noted. According
to the response from the Special Penitentiary Office,100 the works for incorporating the above document
into a legal framework are underway and, after retraining of medical personnel, it is planned to
implement the instrument.
In its report on the visit to Georgia, carried out on 10-21 September 2018, the CPT reiterated its
recommendation that the Georgian authorities should continue their efforts to reinforce the provision
of psychiatric care and psychological assistance to prisoners.101
The examination of medical cards by the members of the Special Preventive Group revealed a number
of problems102 that affect providing timely medical care. The visits showed that there were still
problems in terms of respect for medical confidentiality. Medical procedures are conducted in the
presence of prison staff, which breaches medical confidentiality.
Despite expediting medical referrals, there are still occasions when the terms103 of providing medical
care104 are not complied with. It is also noteworthy that there are patients who have been registered
since 2016 but as of December 2018 have not received medical treatment.
specialisation are rarely conducted. Computers in medical centres can only access the website of the Ministry of
Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia. Due to the restriction on the Internet, medical personnel are unable
to obtain comprehensive and prompt information about the contemporary methods of treatment and diagnostics,
guidelines, protocols and medication. This, in turn, affects the quality of medical care.
100 Letter no. 3337/01 of the Special Penitentiary Office, dated 9 February 2019.
101 Report to the Georgian Government on the visit to Georgia, carried out by the European Committee for the
Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 10 to 21 September
2018, (CPT/Inf (2019) 16), para. 86, available in English at: https://rm.coe.int/1680945eca, (accessed 15.05.19).
102For instance, medical cards are not structured; records are not organised chronologically; information about
the consultation and finding of medical consultants often are illegible. Overall, dynamics of a patient’s health
condition is not reflected in medical cards, which creates problems in terms of providing continuous medical
treatment.
103 For instance, one convicted person was given a recommendation by an ophthalmologist on 17 October 2017
to have an additional consultation in an ophthalmological clinic in civil sector. The diagnosis was circulating
cornea, traumatic acute cataract. On 20 October 2017, the convicted person was registered in the uniform
electronic database. However, as of 21 December 2018, the prisoner was still awaiting transfer to a clinic.
104Order no. 31 of the Minister of Corrections of Georgia of 22 April 2015 on Approving the Standards of Providing
Medical Care in Penitentiary Establishments, Additional Standard of Providing Medical Care for Persons with
Specific Medical Needs, Preventive Health Care Package in Penitentiary Establishments and the List of Basic
Medication of the Penitentiary Health Care, Article 8.
39
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