THE PENITENTIARY HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AND TORTURE PREVENTION MECHANISMS Geneva Declaration (1948), Declaration of Malta (1991, 2006), Helsinki Resolution (2003, 2007); ±± A Guide to International Instruments and Mechanisms against Torture, International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT) (as of 4 July 2007) ±± Health in Prisons, A WHO guide to the essentials in prison health; ±± The Madrid recommendation: health protection in prisons as an essential part of public health (WHO, 2010). ORGANIZATIONAL ASPECTS OF THE GEORGIAN PENITENTIARY HEALTHCARE QQ SYSTEM AND REFORMS IMPLEMENTED Pursuant to information received from the Ministry of Corrections, 2013 was a year of systemic overhaul of the penitentiary healthcare system. The Medical Department structure was made compatible with its basic functions and requirements of contemporary management standards: separate units were created to manage primary healthcare, specialized medical assistance, medical regulation, and healthcare economy and logistics. Primary healthcare and specialized institutions were subordinated to the relevant divisions. Since 1 January 2013, the Ministry of Corrections has been implementing an 18-month-long reform, pursuant to the Reform Strategy and Action Plan. According to the information received from the Ministry, the following activities have been implemented within the reform: Protection and the Ministry of Corrections was reformed; ±± A new nutrition standard was elaborated and launched; ±± An active campaign against drug addiction was commenced; ±± An information material about available medical services was prepared for migrant prisoners in 10 different languages. These changes deserve positive evaluation. However, a series of substantive problems remain in the penitentiary healthcare system, which will be discussed in detail below. 2013 ±± The penitentiary healthcare budget was increased; ±± Salaries of the penitentiary medical personnel were increased; ±± A program to prevent, diagnose and treat hepatitis C in the penitentiary system was developed; ±± The Medical Department was reorganized; ±± The Personal Electronic Health Record software (PEHR) was launched; ±± Primary healthcare module was introduced in all penitentiary institutions; ±± The penitentiary healthcare personnel was renewed through competitions; ±± An intensive program for training nurses was developed; ±± A basic list of medications was elaborated and approved; ±± A new center for the treatment and rehabilitation of tuberculosis was opened; ±± Repair and re-equipment of the Medical Institution for Accused and Convicted Persons started; ±± A suicide prevention program was developed and launched; ±± A joint commission composed of representatives from the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social NPM Report 29