Specific actions necessary for an improved provision of healthcare in prisons were discussed at a high-level meeting in Skopje, organised with the support of the EU and Council of Europe. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Health Mr Fatmir Mexhiti, Deputy Minister of Justice Ms Viktorija Avramovska Madikj, the Head of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions Mr Jovica Stojanovikj, as well as prison governors (Idrizovo and Skopje), senior representatives of the Ministry of Health, the Health Insurance Fund, the Skopje Health Centre, and the Ombudsman’s Office.  As of last year, the Government established a cross-section group that oversees the implementation of the National Strategy on the Development of the Penitentiary System (2021-25).

Earlier analysis has identified the key challenges that require urgent intervention: increasing the number of medical personnel working in prisons, strengthening the co-ordination capacity of the Ministry of Health, as well as ensuring proper training of the medical staff.

The participants agreed for the Ministry of Health to establish a working group as interim measure for co-ordination purposes, with the support of the joint EU and Council of Europe Programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”. Further, the Ministry of Health will introduce specialisations’ incentives for the medical staff. Specific procedures on the insurance of inmates and provision of medications were also discussed, aiming at finding the most efficient exchange of information.

This meeting was conducted in the framework of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme ”Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Türkiye”, and its action on “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system in North Macedonia”.