The provision of healthcare in North-Macedonian prisons was discussed at a high-level meeting in Skopje, attended by the Minister of Health, Deputy Minister of Justice, Director of the Directorate for the Execution of Sanctions, two prison governors (Idrizovo and Skopje), senior representatives of the Ministry of Health, Health Insurance Fund, Skopje Health Centre, as well as the Ombudsman’s Office.

Earlier analysis conducted by the Council of Europe and other relevant stakeholders, has identified the key challenges that require urgent intervention: increasing the number of medical personnel in prisons, strengthening the co-ordination capacity of the Ministry of Health, as well as ensuring proper training of medical staff.

It was agreed that the Ministry of Health would establish a working group for co-ordination purposes as interim measure, with the support of the Council of Europe. The attendees agreed that, as an incentive, the Ministry of Health should cover the costs of specialisation for the medics prepared to work in prisons. Specific procedures on the health insurance of inmates and provision of medication were also discussed, aiming at finding the most efficient ways of exchanging the relevant 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”.