Following a fact-finding mission on the organisation of healthcare within the prison system in the Republic of Moldova, on 25 November 2024 the national stakeholders were presented with a comparative analysis of existing models of healthcare organisation in prisons in different Council of Europe member states, including those where these services were transferred from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Health, with recommendations on potential models for the Republic of Moldova.

The Analysis, prepared with the expertise of the Council of Europe project “Strengthening the prison and probation reforms, provision of health care and the treatment of patients in closed institutions,” looked into the ways of optimising the governance, organisation and management of healthcare in prisons, and is a first step in supporting national stakeholders in getting a better understating of the benefits (but also the challenges) of transferring the responsibility for prison healthcare from the Ministry of Justice to the Ministry of Health. It will help coordinate the efforts of the Moldovan authorities to strengthen independence of medical professionals and align the standards of medical services in prisons with those in community at large, addressing longstanding recommendations of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

The event served as a platform for discussions between the representatives of the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the National Administration of Penitentiaries, and the National Health Insurance Company on feasible modalities for advancing this dialogue, underlining the need for a collaborative approach if the reforms are to be implemented effectively.

Falk Lange, the Head of the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau, and Raluca Ivan, the Head of Unit I of the Cooperation in Police and Deprivation of Liberty Division reiterated the Council of Europe’s commitment to supporting national authorities in enhancing the quality of health care provided in prisons and ensuring its compatibility with and integration into the national health policy.

This activity was organised under the auspices of the Project “Strengthening the prison and probation reforms, provision of health care and the treatment of patients in closed institutions,” financed and implemented as part of the Council of Europe Action Plan for the Republic of Moldova 2021-2024.