- 22 e. medical care 49. The CPT’s delegation observed that in most of the special facilities for irregular migrants and the police holding facilities, there was a regular presence of medical staff; in Filakio, with a capacity of approximately 370 detained persons, there was one full-time doctor and two full-time nurses and in Mytilini (capacity of 300 detainees), there were two part time doctors. In Petrou Ralli and Amygdaleza, there was an arrangement providing for the presence of a general practitioner, a nurse and a psychologist on a full-time basis, who divided their time between the two facilities. By contrast, there was no medical staff attached to the Aspropyrgus and Thessaloniki police holding facilities. Given the increasing numbers of irregular migrants who are detained in the special facilities and police holding facilities, the CPT recommends that the Greek authorities increase the medical staffing complement available for the Amygdaleza, Filakio, Mytilini and Petrou Ralli facilities. Further, the Committee recommends that a sufficiently staffed and equipped health care service be established for the Aspropyrgus and Thessaloniki police holding facilities. 50. In view of the health hazards observed at the Mytilini facility, the CPT was concerned to learn that the NGO ‘Médecins sans Frontières’ had withdrawn its staff from that facility, apparently due to the poor cooperation it received from the Greek authorities. The CPT’s delegation was told that, for instance, access to patients was refused other than through the grilled, locked gates. The CPT would like to receive the remarks of the Greek authorities on this issue. 51. As was the case in 2007, in the Alexandroupoli, Mytilini and Orestiada prefectures as well as in the Petrou Ralli facility, apprehended irregular migrants underwent a test for tuberculosis. However, such screening did not take place in any of the other prefectures or (special) holding facilities. Moreover, in none of the facilities visited was medical screening for other transmissible diseases undertaken. The CPT reiterates that a comprehensive screening for transmissible diseases is indispensable for the health of detainees, staff and the Greek population alike. It should be noted in this respect that in almost all detention facilities, staff were provided with surgical masks and gloves to wear in order to protect themselves from infections. The CPT calls upon the Greek authorities to introduce systematic medical screening of all detained irregular migrants, including for transmissible diseases.

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