One of the main directions of the Azerbaijani Ombudsman’s activities is the protection of the right to health. In this respect, the Ombudsman pays great attention to monitoring the situation with regard to the health conditions in the places where persons cannot leave on their own will.  

The National Preventive Group (NPG) of the Ombudsman paid the visit to the Medical facility of the Penitentiary Service of the Ministry of Justice without prior notice.

During the visit, the NPG monitored the condition of the wards of the facility including the surgery and mental illnesses departments and other objects.  The NPG also examined the status of medical service, nutrition for the convicts and also the access to the phone conversation with their relatives and delivering parcels.

In the frame of the visit, the NPG met a number of convicts in private to hear their appeals on detention conditions and treatment issues. Their appeals on treatment towards them and meeting with their family members were examined and ensured on the spot, also legal advice was given to those who raised issues about the investigation of their cases.

Upon this visit, it was found out that there was a need for improving and upgrading the quality of medical service in the Medical facility, psychiatric service in the institution with regard to providing medical and social care to the persons with mental disorders.

The NPG also met with the administration of the facility and gave recommendations by pointing out the requirements of the national and international legislation with regard to the elimination of shortcomings in the provision of the medical service and further improvement of the detention conditions.