(housing four hundred and eleven inmates) and in the ‘Ceramic Factory’ open-type prison hostel (housing a hundred and fifteen inmates). Thus the total number of inmates is five hundred and twenty-six. According to government standards, which require the provision of four square meters per inmate, the total number of inmates should not exceed four hundred and fifty-nine. The Ministry of Justice has taken initial actions regarding the NPM recommendation made that the ‘Ceramic Factory’ PH be either closed down or moved to new premises. An agreement has been concluded with the Vratsa District Governor for free-of-charge transfer of real estate between public administrations. A design-and-build contract to have the said property refurbished has also been signed. Given the squalid living conditions in the ‘Ceramic Factory’ PH, the NPM will continue to insist on swift action. 1.2. The NPM did not observe any change as regards feeding arrangements. The food was unvaried, and the intake of fresh fruits, vegetables, and dairy products was insufficient. Inmates complained to the NPM team about the quantity of food and about the ban on taking leftover bread away from the refectory. 1.3. In 2015, a total of twelve inmates were engaged in voluntary work as per Article 80 of the EPRCA and in facility services, such as the kitchen, laundry, cleaning, maintenance and gardening. Eight to ten inmates were contracted out to companies outside the prison. The NPM team found out high dust concentration in the furniture manufacturing facility within the prison walls, as well as lack of personal protective equipment for inmate workers. 1.4. Medical care is provided to inmates at the prison healthcare centre. In 2015, the centre’s physical environment and equipment appeared to be unchanged except for the infirmary beds whose number had increased to fifteen. The recommendation made during the previous inspection that a dental chair be procured had not yet been implemented. However, the NPM inspection team received assurances that funding would be made available and a dental chair would be purchased by the end of 2015. The NPM identified staff shortages at the healthcare centre. Following recent layoffs, the centre was staffed by an assistant medical officer, who performs also the duties of HC manager, a part-time doctor of internal medicine, a part-time dentist working under arrangements with the NHIF, and three inmate orderlies. All prisoners are registered with a GP practice. The GP visits the penitentiary infrequently and his functions are assumed by the local medical staff at the healthcare centre. An intake health screening is performed at the HC on all newly admitted inmates. Their current health status is recorded in the outpatient register and individual medical records are also created. The medical records at the HC are kept systematically and accurately. Dispensing of medicines: Prescription medicines reimbursable by the NHIF are procured from a pharmacy in the city by a designated prison officer. The medicines are then given to the inmates to take themselves with the exception of mental illness medications which are administered daily by the guard on duty. Medications for emergency assistance, as well as for treatment at the infirmary are dispensed from the prison’s dispensary. There is no separate medical examination room at the ‘Ceramic Factory’ PH. Examinations are therefore performed inside the first checkpoint guardhouse in the presence of a prison officer. Medical care to prison hostel inmates is provided by a healthcare worker from the prison’s HC who visits the hostel weekly. Dental patients are escorted under guard to the dentist’s office at the prison. 1.5. The share of inmates who became parole eligible in 2015 and were recommended for early release on parole or for a commutation of sentence remained relatively low. 1.6. During interviews with inmates, they complained mostly about poor living conditions at the prison hostel, the lack of a medical examination room there, the presence of a prison officer during medical examinations, violations of the right to privacy and confidentiality of correspondence, high prison commissary prices, poor-quality health care. 39