Prison healthcare: MPs demand reliable health data and dedicated funding

This Wednesday, the National Assembly is examining the bill concerning healthcare in prisons. During the debates, members of the majority party highlighted the difficulties linked to prison overcrowding and the cramped conditions of some facilities housing large numbers of inmates. They explained that this issue must be fully integrated into the definition of healthcare policy in prisons, reiterating that individuals in pretrial detention or convicted must be able to reintegrate into society in conditions that respect their dignity.

Therefore, they recommended the establishment of a structured system for collecting and reporting health data, so that the Ministry of Health has information useful for developing and improving public health policies. They also suggested extending national screening campaigns for non-communicable diseases to incarcerated individuals and paying particular attention to their mental health.

For parliamentarians, establishing legal and ethical safeguards to preserve the dignity and fundamental rights of detainees is essential. Furthermore, they inquired about independent mechanisms for monitoring compliance with health and safety standards in prisons, as well as monitoring systems to prevent violations of the rights of sick individuals.

During the discussions, Pastef parliamentarians sought information on the progress of the healthcare digitalization program, noting its potential to improve medical monitoring and continuity of care. They emphasized the human, material, and budgetary resources the government intends to allocate to implementing the program in all prisons, particularly those located far from major hospitals. The question of identifying the budget line item for financing healthcare for incarcerated individuals, as well as its name, was also raised.

Questions were also raised regarding the care of children of detainees and the solutions being considered by the Ministry of Justice. Referring to Chapter 9 of Decree No. 2001-362 of May 4, 2001, concerning hygiene and health organization in prisons, they felt that the lack of a sufficiently comprehensive regulatory framework could limit the effectiveness of healthcare provision.