Correctional institutions Documentation in Electronic Patient Record Module The NPM recommended informing the attending doctors, and subsequently the patients of the reasons in the event that a therapy prescription is rejected. The Federal Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice responded that in future the HCV therapy as well as the relevant requests including response and justification by the medical superintendent will be documented both in the Electronic Patient Record Module and the respective medical record. XX  Approval of therapy by the medical superintendent shall be timely. XX  The request for a specific therapy, approval or rejection as well as the treatment procedure shall be documented in the Electronic Patient Record Module and the medical record. 2.5.3.6 Treatment of substance use disorders Problems with opioid substitution treatment In 2018 the NPM focussed on monitoring the treatment of persons who are suffering from a substance use disorder (see NPM Report 2017, pp. 120 et seq.; NPM Report 2018, pp. 106 et seq.,). The NPM also took a closer look at the living conditions of this group of persons in the period under review. Vienna-Josefstadt correctional institution Opioid substitution in Austria’s largest correctional institution was scrutinised, for example. On the day of the visit, some 130 out of 1,255 detained persons were on substitution treatment in Vienna-Josefstadt correctional institution. On the positive side, all of the general practitioners working at ViennaJosefstadt correctional institution have a qualification in substitution. The NPM also acknowledged that both detainees who were on substitution therapy prior to starting their prison term and those who become addicted during the deprivation of their liberty have access to a substitution treatment. Categorical prescription practice Methadone is predominantly used, and Substitol retard and buprenorphine (Suboxone) less frequently, in substitution therapy. Many persons suffering from addiction are radically transferred to methadone during detention. The majority of interviewed persons described the transfer as stressful, as the sudden change of medication is accompanied by side effects (headaches, perspiration, nightmares). Furthermore, a compound (L-Polamidon®), which had the mildest side effect profile, is restrictively approved by the Federal Ministry of Constitutional Affairs, Reforms, Deregulation and Justice for cost reasons. The practice of only prescribing certain medication is worthy of criticism. The NPM stresses that, in line with the principle of equivalence, persons in 117

Select target paragraph3

Connect to a paragraph
Connect to an entity
Disable highlights
Add to table of contents