CAT/OP/KAZ/1 111. The Subcommittee recalls that rule 12 (2) of the Nelson Mandela Rules requires careful selection of those confined to the same room. 5. Health care 112. While basic medicine is available almost everywhere, supplies of special medicine and access to specialized treatment are inconsistent and sometimes unduly restricted, in particular with respect to dental care. In several institutions the administration informed the Subcommittee that it was difficult to fill vacancies and that outside physicians had to be brought in. The delegation was told repeatedly that the prison administration does not send ailing detainees to specialized health-care institutions. In the places visited, no drug treatment was available. HIV treatment was managed by the regional HIV centres. 113. The Subcommittee observed that conditions in medical units were often stricter than those in other parts of colonies, with prisoners having nothing to do. It also received allegations that the confidentiality of medical files was not always respected. 114. The Subcommittee recommends ensuring that prisoners enjoy standards of health care that are the same as those enjoyed by persons in the community, without discrimination, including access to dentists.33 Prompt access to medical attention in urgent cases needs to be ensured, including through transfer to specialized institutions or civil hospitals. 34 Medical files should be subject to medical confidentiality. 35 Authorities are called upon to encourage the voluntary participation of individuals with drug use disorders in treatment programmes, with the informed consent of those individuals.36 115. The Subcommittee recommends taking measures to combat discrimination against prisoners on the basis of illness, including by ensuring that persons in medical units are not subjected to conditions that are stricter than those imposed on other prisoners. 6. Persons sentenced to life imprisonment 116. During the visit to the special security establishment UK-161/3 in Zhetygara, the Subcommittee found 121 detainees serving life sentences, 28 of whom had had their earlier death sentences commuted to life imprisonment. Following the abolition of the death penalty and the introduction of life imprisonment, the number of prisoners serving life sentences has continued to grow. The prison administration informed the Subcommittee that additional blocks for such detainees were to be built in the near future. The two existing blocks are maximum security. 117. Detainees can be held in strict, common or soft conditions, 37 which determines, among other things, the amount of money they may spend, the length of their walks (between one and two hours) and the number of visits and parcels they may receive, for example, six parcels and four short and four long visits per year under soft conditions, but only two parcels and three short visits per year under strict conditions. Another feature is that movement from stricter to softer conditions occurs after 10 years, that is, violations lead to the prolongation of strict conditions of detention for 10 years. 118. The Subcommittee observed that all persons sentenced to life imprisonment were considered dangerous, which led to harsh security measures that were partly stigmatizing. Detailed descriptions of the crimes committed are posted on cell doors. Individuals sentenced to life imprisonment are given specific uniforms indicating their status; they must present themselves by reciting the article of the Criminal Code that they violated and stating the length of their sentence. 33 34 35 36 37 18 Ibid., rules 24 and 25. Ibid., rule 27. Ibid., rule 26. General Assembly resolution S-30/1, annex. Criminal Execution Code, art. 141.