medication prescribed for an applicant for international protection or a person subject to
expulsion, the needs of the person and reasonable use of money are observed. The
Chancellor was asked to verify the constitutionality of that provision. She concluded that the
provision could be interpreted in a constitutionally compliant manner. When procuring
medication, the primary consideration should be an assessment by a medical professional as
to whether the specific medication is necessary, i.e. whether a medical indication for it exists.
The principle of reasonable use of money can be interpreted so that from medicines
containing active substance(s) prescribed to an alien by a medical professional the medicine
which is best in terms of price and availability is procured. An alien may not be deprived of
medication with active substance(s) prescribed by a medical professional if that medication is
necessary for provision of a service on the list of healthcare services of the Health Insurance
Fund.
Healthcare services
During the reporting period, the Chancellor inspected four healthcare institutions: the
department of child psychiatry of the psychiatric clinic of Viljandi Hospital; the psychiatric
clinic of Pärnu Hospital; Wismari Hospital; and the psychiatric department of the South
Estonian Hospital. Problems were to a large extent the same as had been noted in previous
years: the treatment environment needs to be improved, use of means of restraint should be
better documented, and the necessity for video surveillance should be weighed more
carefully. Several hospitals also needed to be reminded that if a person does not agree to
stay in hospital they can be held against their will only in compliance with the rules for
involuntary psychiatric care.
The Chancellor asked Viljandi Hospital to properly record all instances of restraint in the
department of child psychiatry and enter them in a separate register. The psychiatric clinic of
Pärnu Hospital was recommended to justify the need for use of means of restraint clearly and
with the required regularity.
The Chancellor also asked all the hospitals inspected to improve the treatment environment.
Viljandi Hospital must offer young people in the department of child psychiatry more
opportunities for sports outdoors in the yard and acquire play facilities for children in the
yard. The psychiatric clinic of Pärnu Hospital should change the furnishings in the acute
treatment unit and the unit for patients with unstable remission, so as to be able to offer a