Specificities and importance of the medical work in the penitentiary system were presented to 90 resident and specialist doctors by the National Administration of Penitentiaries in partnership with the Grigore T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Socola Institute of Psychiatry. The governor of Iasi prison, the head of Medical Department of the National Administration of Penitentiares and some of the doctors from the penitentiary system spoke about the penitentiary system, its role and functions, the importance of mental health in prisons, career possibilities, challenges and advantages.

Many participants expressed an interest in visiting the prison in Iasi to observe how the medical services are provided on spot. The meeting also laid a foundation to further collaboration between the Grigore T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy and the Iasi penitentiary establishment.

This meeting was part of a series of information sessions and aims at implementing the Strategy on Attracting the Medical Personnel. The purpose of this outreach is to deepen cooperation between the National Administration of Penitentiaries and different universities and hospitals, facilitating the creation of joint platforms for further collaboration. Also, it is expected that information sessions, in conjunction with other measures, will result in attracting more personnel in the penitentiary system and address the problem of shortage of personnel hindering the provision of health care.

The initiative was  organised within the framework of the project Further strengthening the provision of health care and mental health in prisons and other closed institutions in Romania (phase 2) financed by the Human Rights Trust Fund of the Council of Europe.