- 26 of detainees. Moreover, medications at the possession of detainees on admission to the detention area that do not require special prescription (e.g. painkillers, antipyretics, anti-inflammatory, antacids, anti-cough drugs) are not confiscated, remain with their personal belongings and are given to their holders on request by the police staff. Moreover, monthly visits take place at the detention areas, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, by competent teams that carry out preventive tests for contagious diseases (AIDS, hepatitis B and C, dermatological conditions and tuberculosis screening by MANTOUX test). NGO teams made extraordinary visits and carry out medical tests on detainees who wish to have such tests. As regards the Committee's recommendation to take three (3) detainees on 22.07.2016 to the University General Hospital AHEPA on duty, the two (2) Pakistani nationals initially underwent clinical examination and laboratory tests, without establishing the presence of any infectious or contagious disease. To further investigate the reported symptoms, they were admitted to the 1st Internal Medicine Clinic; however, in the following hours, they stated that they did not want to continue their hospitalization and undergo further medical tests and they signed their discharge. The tests carried out until then could not establish the presence of any infectious or contagious disease. An Iranian national who was also taken on the same day to have his leg examined was found to have a soft cell lesion of the third toe and was given medications. Detainees received the prescribed allowance for their meals (€5.87) per day. The Financial Material Management Office held a tender for the detainees of the Detention Facilities Guard Office, on the basis of which, paying three euro (€3.00) per day, detainees had the option of receiving meals out of a menu with salad from a catering company with the necessary ISO standards, while the canteen of the Transfer Centre of the Courts of Thessaloniki, housed at the same building, offers twice a day (morning-afternoon) basic hygiene items (shampoo, shower gel, washing powder, toothpaste) and other items (cigarettes, phone cards, water, juice, croissants etc.) at cost prices. These two actions aim to increase the purchasing power of detainees so that the allowance can cover their basic needs. The police staff and external entities (local parishes, NGOs) collect and provide detainees with necessary items (shampoo, shower gel, towels, clothes etc.). It is also noted that the largest number of detainees, on admission to the detention areas, have substantial amounts of money, delivered to the agency according to the regulations on money and valuables and returned to them on departure and in installments during detention, to cover their personal needs, always ensuring the smooth operation of the agency and preventing incidents of theft among them. In the context of improving the security of the facilities of the Directorate of Foreign Nationals of Thessaloniki and the living conditions of detainees, a series of expenditures have been made and are being approved to improve the facilities. At the same time, maintenance and repair works are made to rectify any problems in the electrical and plumping network of the building by the Police Directorate/Sub-Directorate of Transfers of Thessaloniki and the competent technical department of the Sub-Directorate of Technical Applications of Northern Greece. It is also noted that, at the time of the visit of the Committee, the Head of the Department of Internal Operations was absent because of a 3-month assignment to the Police Directorate of Lesbos, while the Head of the Office had taken his scheduled summer leave, being substituted by another officer of the Department of Internal Operations.