- 51 The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities establish systems to ensure that in all
prison establishments inmates who are HIV positive can be cared for and treated without
recourse to transfer to Korydallos Prison Hospital. Further, they should institute a health
information programme in all prisons about transmissible diseases, and prison staff should be
given specific training on the issue of transmissible diseases.
113. As regards prisoners tested for HIV, the CPT wishes to emphasise that appropriate
counselling should be provided before any screening test and, in the case of a positive result,
psychological support should be guaranteed. Further, information regarding HIV-positivity should
be protected by medical confidentiality. The CPT recommends that the Greek authorities
ensure that these precepts are fully respected in practice.
v.
health care policy regarding drug abuse
114. In all the prisons visited by the delegation there was no trace of a prevention and treatment
policy; the delegation even met prisoners who had relapsed into drug abuse while in prison. The
comments made following the 2001 visit remain pertinent (cf. CPT/Inf (2002) 31, paragraph 97).
Reference was made to the detoxification centre for drug-addicts in Thebes, both in official
communications and in discussions with the various prison directors. However, despite a capacity
of 300, the centre’s population was only 53 at the time of the visit, contrasting starkly with the
overcrowding in every other prison establishment.
115. The CPT considers that the predominant policy approach, within Greek prisons, of
combating drug abuse exclusively through heightened security measures is misguided. The CPT
recognises that providing assistance to persons who have drug-related problems is far from being a
straightforward matter, particularly in a prison setting; there is no simple or single answer as regards
the approach to be followed.
However, although prison is not an ideal environment to address a person’s drug-related
problem, admission to prison could be an opportunity to address such a problem and it is therefore
important that suitable assistance is offered to all persons concerned; consequently, appropriate
health care must be available in all prisons and not only in those establishments with special drug
treatment centres. The assistance offered to such persons should be varied, combining genuine
medico-psycho-socio-educational detoxication programmes with substitution programmes for
opiate-dependent patients who are unable to stop taking drugs. The setting up of a drug-free wing in
prisons for certain categories of prisoners, inter alia those having completed treatment programmes
prior or during imprisonment, might also be considered. All health-care staff and prison staff more
generally should be given specific training on drug-related issues. Further, effective through-care in
partnership with community based drugs related agencies should be put in place.
In the light of the above remarks, the CPT recommends that a comprehensive strategy
be drawn up for the provision of assistance to all prisoners with drug-related problems.
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