The creation of a National Health Policy in the Prison System is the objective of the project “From plan to policy: guaranteeing the right to health for all the people of the prison system", developed by the Brasilia Regional Office of Fiocruz - Direb (Fiocruz Brasilia), by request of the Ministry of Health. The proposal is supported by Fiotec, whose performance was praised by the researcher Martinho Silva, who co-ordinates the project. “Fiotec’s participation is fundamental so that the project may be carried out in a planned and well organized manner”.
Today, Brazil has the fourth highest jail population in the world. With this constantly growing number, the prison system is undergoing difficulties in the access to the health. Currently there exists the National Health Plan of the Penitentiary System (PNSSP), which takes care of a specific portion of this population, the ones that have been judged and convicted, covering only basic care, infectious diseases and HIV/Aids. “Today, of the 500 thousand prisoners, 40% have not yet been judged and for this reason, they are not included in the plan. We want the policy to guarantee health for all those in the prison system, also taking into account the visitors, the employees and all those who are exposed to the risks existing in the prisons, jails, police districts, stations and other areas", explained Martinho.
The proposal will serve as an instrument for the federal administration to launch the policy. “We are going to gather elements that may help the government to take measures. One of them would be the multi-professional teams and the functioning of the health system taking into account the unhealthy conditions existing in the places inhabited by this population ", said the coordinator.
Progress of the project
During the last year, various meetings have been held with the participants involved in the process. The meetings took place with federal, state and municipal administrators, with workers, with organized civil society and researchers. “Actions to guarantee the right to health must be inter-sectorial. This is a proposal that involves not only one ministry; we want to provide support for the Ministry of Health and Justice to act together. The policy is going to be constructed in participative way", explained Martinho.
Originally to be concluded in 2012, the project was extended due to the necessity to synchronize the scientific agenda with the political agenda. At the conclusion of the meetings and research, all the material will be forwarded to the federal administration and the expectation is that the policy be launched in May of this year.