Health in Prisons Project Establishing a Monitoring Mechanism on Prison Health Indicators and Health Determinants Working Party on Information on Lifestyle and Specific Subpopulations Luxembourg, 14 May 2008 Brenda van den Bergh World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe

Health in Prisons Project WHO Health in Prisons Project Launched in 1995 Purpose: to support Member States in improving public health by addressing health and health care in prisons, and to facilitate the links between prison health and public health systems both at national and international levels

Health in Prisons Project Strategic objectives Establishing integration of prison health into the public health system Encouraging prisons to work within codes of human rights and medical ethics Contributing to rehabilitation and resettlement and giving social support Reducing exposure to communicable diseases Reaching prison health service equivalent to society

Health in Prisons Project Activities WHO Health in Prisons Project Annual Conference and network meeting Publications/ resolutions - Prisons and Mental Health - Prisons and Womens Health Country activities Best Practice Awards Prison Health Database WHO guide to the essentials in prison health

Health in Prisons Project WP Project and partners The WP project started officially September 2005 with grant from the Public Health Programme Partners involved: EMCDDA ENDIPP

Health in Prisons Project Activities WP Project To establish an information/surveillance system on prison health, leading to a greater understanding of the incidence/prevalence and spread of disease and ill-health in prisons and between prisons and the society. To establish an European Network of national experts on prison health in order to facilitate the implementation of a data collection procedure. To support and encourage EU Member States, applicant and neighbouring countries to implement a system to monitor prison health. To develop evidence-based guidance on cost-effective disease control and health promotion in prisons as part of national strategies for public health protection and promotion. To develop an early warning system on communicable diseases and changes in psychotropic drug use in prisons in order to protect public health.

Health in Prisons Project Outcome Prison Health Database Network of Experts Prison Health Manual

Health in Prisons Project 1. Prison Health Database The Prison Health Database was developed to: Be able to compare public health with prison health To put focus on special health conditions in prison Increase the knowledge of prison health and prison health trends

Health in Prisons Project Importance of database The database will be used to: Obtain an overview of the health situation in prisons and the organization, practice and quality control of assistance to prisoners in Europe Make individual country recommendations Compare countries Develop evidence-based guidance on cost- effective disease control and health promotion in prison

Health in Prisons Project Contribution to ECHIM indicators 3 indicators recommended for inclusion in ECHIM shortlist: - prison population rate - number of prisoners on substitution treatment -number of suicides in prison Some ECHIM indicators included in Prison Health indicators list, specifically for prison population (e.g. HIV/AIDS incidence, suicide attempts)

Health in Prisons Project Where are we now? December 2007: first annual report for EC Invitations EU Member States not in network yet Increase data availability Review process with EMCDDA August 2008: grant from Public Health Programme ends

Health in Prisons Project Internet address

Health in Prisons Project 2. Network of Experts 36 Member States are actively involved (20 EU): 14 from West Europe: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom (England, Wales and Scotland) 13 from Central Europe: Albania, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia 9 from East Europe: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan

Health in Prisons Project 3. Prison Health Manual Health in Prisons: A WHO guide to the essentials in prison health Published in May 2007, launched in The Netherlands Translated into Russian, Farsi, Italian, Chinese, Polish, Albanian

Health in Prisons Project

Website: Contact details: Lars Møller Brenda van den Bergh