Twelve doctors and medical staff covering nine penitentiary institutions in North Macedonia enhanced their knowledge on preventing and treating transmissible diseases, following the training that took place on 20-21 April 2022 in Skopje. The training was delivered by one international consultant, a former Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture member and a local infectiologist.

Frequent pathogenies and transmission, the potential treatment and preventions measures were at the key focus of the discussion, while the participants advanced their knowledge on international guidelines and comparative experience of treatment. The medical staff analysed case studies and practical examples, exchanging experience on management. Given that this training is one of the very few on transmissible diseases, it is expected to have a positive reflection on the protection of the rights of incarcerated persons, particularly on Tuberculosis and Hepatitis.

The discussions raised questions on the protection of the medical staff, as well as improving the material conditions, both of which are major preventive factors.

This activity was organised under the action on “Enhancing the capacities of the penitentiary system and the External Oversight Mechanism in North Macedonia”, which is a part of the joint European Union and Council of Europe programme “Horizontal Facility for the Western Balkans and Turkey 2019-2022".