own special medical facility, it can take a maximum of up to four days (including Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) for an initial examination to be conducted. If an inmate complains of acute symptoms, an examination will be carried out immediately at the closest hospital. According to the Federal Ministry of Justice, the examination consists of a full body examination with or without simple instruments. In the course of the health examination upon arrival, an overview of the patient’s health is obtained based on the medical history, checking the blood pressure and weight, and assessing the patient’s vital signs. This does not include cases with specific symptoms. The blood concentration is only checked if there is a medical need – and at regular intervals of once a year (laboratory testing) in accordance with the usual procedure of equivalent care. Scope of the examination In the view of the Federal Ministry of Justice the medical history, which is an extremely important part of every examination, provides every patient with the opportunity – and the right – to list all of his/her illnesses in order to ensure that he/she will undergo further examinations, if necessary. The services of a psychiatrist will only be utilised during examinations if there have been complaints of mental problems or if specialists or other prison employees have reported anomalies. Psychiatrist The existence of health problems, particularly contagious diseases, is established with the aid of a simple procedure utilising epidemiological data. The NPM considers it positive that all inmates are given an information packet called “Take Care” with regard to the prevention of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis B/C in the course of the health examination. Condoms for men and women are also made available anonymously. Prophylactic measures – “Take Care” information packet Adequate health care starts by prophylactically preventing the possible transmission of diseases and by informing people about how to deal with risky situations in a safe and hygienic manner. The distribution of condoms serves to ensure health, particularly with respect to HIV, syphilis and hepatitis. According to the Federal Ministry of Justice, every new admission must undergo a chest X-ray to screen for tuberculosis within 14 days to prevent lung diseases in correctional institutions. Persons who are visibly in poor overall condition and persons from international risk areas with multi-resistant tuberculosis are examined within five days. Tuberculosis infections In accordance with a decree issued by the prison administration in 2014, female inmates must have a gynaecological exam within two weeks after the first review of the detention order. Any such inmate must be presented to a gynaecologist immediately if the health examination upon arrival reveals an urgent need for treatment by a gynaecologist. A urological examination is offered to men over the age of 50. Gynaecological and urological examination The NPM is currently scrutinising whether the standards for health examinations upon arrival described by the Federal Ministry of Justice Standards for health examinations upon 93