ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER OF GEORGIA 2013 Medical services provided to prisoners: Table 6 № 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Description (preventative and treatment measures) Initial medical check-up Outpatient visits (treatment) Inpatient treatment: 3.1. at the Medical Institution for Accused and Convicted Persons 3.2. at the Center for the Treatment of Tuberculosis and Rehabilitation Medical tests and treatment in civilian specialized hospitals Emergency and scheduled surgeries Dental assistance (cases) 6.1. Therapeutic assistance 6.2. Surgical assistance 6.3. Orthopedic assistance Psychiatric assistance: consultation and treatment Wholesale screening to detect tuberculosis risk groups 8.1. Examination of individual suspected of having been infected with tuberculosis 8.2. „DOTS“ 8.3. „DOTS +“ 8.4. Number of patients who have accomplished the anti-tuberculosis treatment Number of individuals tested on HIV/AIDS 9.1. Number of individuals newly enrolled in the anti-retrovirus programme 9.2. Individuals already enrolled Number of individuals tested on hepatitis Number of individuals tested on sexually transmitted diseases Number of individuals enrolled in the methadone-based detoxication programme Number of individuals consulted by physicians specializing in different areas Number of individuals enrolled in the State Programme for the treatment and rehabilitation of diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus 14.1. Insulin 14.2. Desmopressin Total 16 554 22 4363 1 293 677 516 5 199 1 637 15 814 10 359 4 358 1097 10 752 65 130 7 980 237 57 260 5 263 17 431 4 701 606 311 33 929 7 7 0 EQUIVALENCY OF MEDICAL SERVICES QQ In 2012, prisoners were transferred to civilian medical establishments in 3,558 cases; in 2013, the same index increased up to 5,199. A serious increase in the number of prisoner transfers to civilian clinics against the background that the overall number of the prison population has drastically decreased should deserves a positive evaluation. However, a problem that remains a matter of concern is the equivalency of medical services provided to prisoners. We believe it is necessary to evaluate how equivalent were the medical services provided both in these 5,199 cases (Table 6, point 4) and locally at penitentiary institutions. It seems at a glance that the equivalency principle has been followed in the above-mentioned 5,199 cases due to the fact that the prisoners received medical services in civilian medical establishments; however, for the sake of fairness, we should be critical in evaluating equivalency of the actually provided services. It should be noted that, in 2013, the number of outpatient visits and tests in civilian clinics reached 4,283, which amounts to 82% of the total number of cases (5,199). An overwhelming majority of outpatient visits to civilian clinics was aimed at conducting various medical tests. Prisoners complain that they are not examined in a complete manner during these visits and NPM Report 36