State of transition to Ministry of Health governance of prison healthcare in the Council of Europe region

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine timebound prison healthcare governance amendments and current structures in Europe two decades after the World Health Organization (WHO) Declaration on Prison Health as part of Public Health adopted in Moscow on 24 October 2003 (Moscow Declaration), which recommended prison health care be closely linked with public health systems to ensure quality prison health care, connected health surveillance, and continuity of care.

Study design: We present here a regional evolutionary mapping of the Council of Europe Member State transfer of prison healthcare governance to the auspices of the Ministry of Health.

Methods: The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture database and WHO Regional Office for Europe Health In Prison European Database were scrutinised for Council of Europe (CoE) Member State status regarding the Ministry responsible for prison healthcare governance and if this had changed since the adoption of the Moscow Declaration in 2003.

Results: As of October 2023, completed transfer of governance to the Ministry of Health nationally is documented in 13 CoE Member States and in one CoE Member State candidate (Kosovo). Partial transfer is documented in Spain (Catalonia and Basque Autonomous Community) and Switzerland (cantons of Geneva, Valais, Vaud, Neuchatel, and Basel-Stadt). Three CoE Member States operate joint governance of prison health care between Ministries (Malta, Portugal, Türkiye). Transfer is a lengthy process (up to 10 years).

Conclusions: Successful transition requires political commitment, cooperation, needs assessment, resourcing, and evaluation. Monitoring of cost and prison healthcare standards, due process for complaints, and cooperation with independent/Committee against Torture inspections is critical.

Keywords: Council of Europe; Human rights; Moscow Declaration; Prison health care; Prison healthcare governance.