National Preventive Group of the Ombudsman conducted monitoring of Guba Interdistrict Psychoneurological Center

According to the instructions of the Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsman) of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ms. Sabina Aliyeva, the National Preventive Group (NPG) has conducted a scheduled visit to Guba Interdistrict Psychoneurological Center of the Ministry of Health without prior notice.

The objective of the visit was to assess the detention condition and treatment issues of patients and the situation with ensuring their rights.

During the visit conducted under the OPCAT and the Constitutional Law on the Ombudsman of Azerbaijan and the Law on Psychiatric Aid, the general area of the facility, departments and wards have been inspected. At the time of the visit, the NPG members have confidentially talked to the patients and the grounds of placement of some patients in the hospital and the relevant documentation were monitored.     

At the end of the visit, awareness talks were carried out with the administration of the facility and recommendations were put forward for increasing the control over ensuring patients’ rights, the overall activities concerned and the documentation in line with national and international standards, including the UN Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and the Improvement of Mental Health Care.