 adequate medical care. This entails hiring appropriately educated professionals to fill the vacancies and, where necessary, requesting consultations with external specialists; measures should be taken to actively seek suitable work assignments for the inmates. THE PRISON IN THE CAPITAL CITY OF SOFIA 1.1. In late December 2014 and in early 2015, the NPM conducted inspections of the Sofia prison and of the two prison hostels in Kazichene and Kremikovtsi. The inspection teams met with more than a hundred inmates. Over half of those interviewed complained about the poor living conditions and about the quantity and quality of the food. Based on observations, the NPM is of the opinion that there should be stricter control over the entire process of food preparation. Food service supervision should entail control over all aspects of food preparation, including adherence to recipes, food safety, theft prevention, and portion control. The NPM recommends that inmates be involved in the food service supervision. No repairs have been carried out in the prison kitchen in approximately twelve years. The kitchen equipment and food preparation utensils are worn out and need to be replaced. A long-standing problem noted by the NPM once again is the need for a comprehensive overhaul to the roofing structure of the storage room where canned, bottled and non-perishable food items are kept. Most inmates housed in the main cellhouse and in the Kremikovtsi PH complained about the lack of seasonal fruits and vegetables in the prison commissary. The NPM inspection team ascertained that fresh fruits and vegetables were not indeed available for sale daily. The NPM notes, once again, that commissary prices are jacked up. This fact has been consistently reflected in all NPM reports since its inspections started. Repeated recommendations have been made regarding the need for fair and reasonable pricing in prison commissaries. This is indeed one main criticism directed to the MoJ. Another long-standing problem that remains unresolved is the outdated and worn-out vehicle fleet at the Kazichene PH. It has been previously recommended that the Kremikovtsi PH be closed. Following this latest inspection, the NPM maintains this view. 1.2. The inspection established overcrowding of detainees and criminal defendants housed in the prison as per the provision of Article 248, para 1 of the EPRCA. By way of example, thirteen persons deprived of their liberty were held in one room, which is, first of all, a violation of the minimum living space standard. There were beds placed one upon the other in three tiers. Secondly, access to daylight was very limited. Ventilation in the same room was inadequate. The NPM assessed negatively the prison’s approach to the accommodation and even distribution of detainees and defendants, who are to be kept in permanently locked remands. The NPM therefore recommends that all detainee distribution requirements and living space standards be observed. The above finding occasioned an official request to the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Bulgaria asking his position on the proper implementation of the aforementioned statutory provision. Following an inquiry into the matter conducted by the Supreme Prosecutor's Office of Cassation, the Prosecutor General informed the Ombudsman of his position that Article 248 of the EPRCA should be amended to ensure a differentiated approach to the legal status and treatment of pre-trial detainees and that of inmates in post-adjudicatory detention in either prison or another correctional facility. 44