Country

Portugal

Detention issue

Healthcare

FRA research findings

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Legal instruments & key provisions

Legal instrument Key provision
Code of Enforcement of Prison Sentences and Imprisonment Measures (Lei 115/2009 que aprova o Código da Execução das Penas e Medidas Privativas da Liberdade)Prisoners are considered regular users of the National Health Service.
General Regulation of Detention Facilities (Decreto-Lei n.º 51/2011, que aprova o Regulamento Geral dos Estabelecimentos Prisionais)Healthcare provision is granted to prisoners inside the detention facilities and, when needed, in healthcare units outside prison. Each detention facility must have specific programmes for clinical intervention namely in areas such as: drug addiction, infectious diseases, mental health, prevention of suicide and harmful behaviour.

NATIONAL PREVENTIVE MECHANISM RECOMMENDATIONS

Year Recommendation Report
2016These recommendations concern the mental health of young offenders and are especially addressed to juvenile educational centres and recommend that the Directorate-General for Health and the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services jointly undertake a comprehensive listing of the main constraints in terms of access and scheduling of speciality appointments experienced by the youngsters. Protocols are established between the Directorate-General for Health and the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services so that the requests of the young people in educational centres may be promptly addressed. The Directorate-General for Health and the Directorate-General for Reintegration and Prison Services work together for collecting data on the most frequent and more complex situations affecting the young people in educational centres in terms of mental health. Report details
2020Accodring to the NPM's report, effective access to health care has been compromised due to staff and material shortages, including psychological and psychiatric issues. Report details