Drawing on 35 years of field visits and interviews with detained persons, healthcare professionals, prison staff, and national authorities across Europe, the CPT recalls the crucial role of healthcare services in upholding dignity in detention.

The CPT highlights 10 essential principles that an appropriate prison healthcare shall ensure, including:

• comprehensive health screening for every person upon admission,
• systematic recording and reporting of all injuries, and
• adequate provision of healthcare services, and
• targeted preventive measures.

Tailored support should also be provided to persons with specific needs, including those with chronic illnesses, disabilities, substance use or mental health-related issues.

For the CPT, prisoners should enjoy at least the same standards of healthcare as those available in the community, provided free of charge.

The CPT standard offers guidance on how these services can uphold human dignity, safeguard public health and prevent ill-treatment.

• Read the standard on healthcare in prison in English, in French