A) Transform the medical centres in the places of detention into healthcare practices within the meaning of the Healthcare Act. B) Primary care for persons deprived of their liberty to be exercised by GPs designated by the Regional Health Insurance Fund. C) Persons deprived of their liberty to be treated in hospitals outside the penitentiary system, namely in healthcare establishments that have concluded partnership agreements with the National Health Insurance Fund. The NPM suggests to use regional hospitals to that end since the State is represented in their management boards and may intervene, through the Ministry of Health, where appropriate. D) Transform the in-house hospital for persons deprived of their liberty into inpatient continuing care units. In 2015 the NPM observed significant efforts for the elimination of the overcrowding in Razdelna prison hostel with Varna prison and for improving the material conditions there. Conditions in the medical care centre in the prison for women in Sliven were improved as well. Projects for the renovation of the prisons in Burgas, Varna and Sliven were drafted; the kitchens in the prisons in Lovech and Burgas, as well as the hospital in Lovech prison were renovated; a full reconstruction of the Atlant prison hostel with Lovech prison was launched; Stara Zagora and Pleven prisons are in the process of reconstruction; sleeping quarters in the reformatory of Boychinovtsi were renovated. New detention facilities were opened with the prisons in Burgas and Pleven. A new detention facility in a separate building was opened in Shumen. In 2016 investigation detention facilities will be opened with the prisons in Lovech and Vratsa, and the detention facilities in Dupnitsa and Kyustendil will be transferred to the prison in Bobov dol. The reconstructions and renovations were carried out with the financial support of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (NFM). The NPM appreciates highly the financial support and efforts made to improve some of the places of detention. It insists however on securing sufficient internal financial resources and endorsing a sustainable and predictable financial policy in relation to the places of detention. An important part of the NPM work in 2015 concerned changes in the legal regulation. Under domestic and international pressure to improve conditions in the places of detention, the Ministry of Justice set up a working group tasked with drafting legislative amendments to that end. A member of the NPM took part in the working group. Many of the findings and recommendations contained in the NPM reports as regards prisons, correctional and detention facilities were discussed and endorsed by the working group. Proposals for amending and supplementing the Execution of Punishments and Remand in Custody Act, Liability of the State and Municipalities for Damage Act, Criminal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Administrative Proecdure Code were made. The most important one concerns the introduction of a preventive and compensatory remedy. The Ombudsman acting as NPM considers the proposed changes in the legal regulation adequate and indispensable to achieve a genuine and positive change and lead to a humane treatment of persons deprived of their liberty. 8