Country

Greece

Detention issue

Healthcare

FRA research findings

View details

Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Penitentiary Code (Σωφρονιστικός Κώδικας)Each prisoner is examined by the detention facility’s doctor upon admission and every six months henceforth. They may also request at any given time an examination either by the facility’s doctor or a private doctor of their choice. In the latter case the prisoners must bear the relevant expenses. When the facility does not employ permanent medical personnel of the appropriate specialisation, prisoners’ medical needs are covered on a 24-hour basis by external doctors and nurses.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2015As regards drug addicted prisoners, the NPM in its special report of 2015 stressed the fact that the correct implementation of alternative penalty measures in these cases, with the goal of effectively implementing all new relevant provisions of Law 4322/2015, Reforms of criminal provisions, is of paramount importance. Same goes for supporting consulting and promptly launching therapeutic programmes for the physical and psychological rehabilitation in all Detention Facilities of the country, aiming at the exclusive operation of therapeutic or detention facilities specific for this purpose. Report details
2017The NPM noted the complete lack, in the vast majority of detention facilities, of any permanent in-house medical personnel, and the practice of a member of the staff undertaking the administrative aspects of nurse duties, such as registering medical information. It also underscored the need for a defibrillator and a cardiograph in every facility, In addition, the NPM found a conflict between the frequent need for medical services to be provided in external facilities and the cumbersome regime of prisoner transfers, which may create problems with access to healthcare in practice. Report details
https://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights.en.recentinterventions.614116 Report details
https://www.synigoros.gr/?i=human-rights.en.recentinterventions.726947