it is to be noted that the plan does not provide for any changes in terms of screening for non-contagious
diseases. The Public Defender made a recommendation to the ministry in the 2017 parliamentary
report.
The Public Defender made numerous recommendations27 to the ministry to ensure compliance of
medical units of the penitentiary establishments with the standards existing in the country, including
equipping these units adequately, control of medical equipment, improving ventilation system and
arranging antistatic flooring. While the plan envisages the improvement of penitentiary healthcare
standard, it is not obvious from the plan whether it plans to bring the primary healthcare units of
penitentiary establishments in compliance with the national standards.
It should be mentioned positively that the plan envisages the identification of drug and alcohol users
and the introduction of harm reduction approaches through the provisions of medical and rehabilitation
services. According to the plan, by 2020, there must be at least one psychosocial rehabilitation and
treatment programme for alcohol and drug users, which is commendable. There is a psychosocial
rehabilitation programme, named Atlantis, implemented in establishments nos. 2 and 5.28 In the report
– Imprisonment Conditions’ Impact on Prisoners’ Health – the Public Defender recommended to the
ministry to enhance the capacities of Atlantis and implement it in all penitentiary establishments. The
plan does not envisage this recommendation.
The plan also envisages improvement of accessibility of psychiatric services and their quality in
penitentiary establishments and probation systems. It should be mentioned positively that the plan
envisages elaboration of screening tools and their implementation, retraining of nurses of
establishments in mental healthcare, working on the strategy document on mental healthcare
development and pilot programmes of crisis management. However, the plan does not envisage the
increase in the number of psychiatrists in penitentiary establishments, development of outpatient
mental healthcare services in penitentiary establishments, provision of community services in
establishments, and introduction and development of psych-social rehabilitation programmes, which
is particularly important for timely and adequate medical services.
2.3. THE SITUATION IN THE PENITENTIARY SYSTEM
Despite the reforms implemented in the penitentiary system for the past few years, the system needs
significant fundamental reforms that will aim at developing a system that is based on human rights,
27
The 2016 Parliamentary Report of the Public Defender of Georgia. See also Imprisonment Conditions’ Impact
on Prisoners’ Health.
28 The programme is a therapeutic model for the convicts suffering from alcohol, drug and other psychoactive
substance abuse.
21
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