National Preventive Group inspections are underway

In the frame of its mandate to monitor the places of where persons cannot leave on their own will, national Preventive Group Members (NPG) inspected the Ministry of Health Republic Psychiatric Hospital No.1 without prior notice. 

The purpose of the visit was to examine the living and treatment condition of patients, treatment of patients by staff of the facility, incoming applications, the state of ensuring the hospitalized patients and the relevant documentation in line with the UN Principles for the Protection of Persons with Mental Illness and Improvement of Mental Health Care, European Minimum Standards for the Treatment of Persons with Mental Problems, Constitutional Law on Ombudsman.

NPG in presence of physician member of the Group examined the condition of wards, meeting rooms, canteen and other objects of the facility as well as condition of medical care, quality of nutrition, access to hot and cold water, parcels, walking, meeting and to phone calls, and checked documentation. However, it was found that patients subjected to mandatory medical care by the court decision lived in overcrowded in some wards.

Furthermore, it was seen that the previous recommendations of the NPM Group have been followed, according to which the heating system was fixed and operated properly and temperature and conditions in the wards and office rooms were found satisfactory at the facility.

NPG members held private talks with patients to identify facts of treatment in relevant departments of the facility; investigated the issues raised related to their rights and documentation on spot; some of their requests dealing with medical care have been ensured immediately. In private and confidential talks, patients subjected to compulsory treatment by court decisions complained about medical opinions issued about them and trial proceedings against them and they have been legally consulted about their concerns.

At the end, NPG members gave recommendations and instructions to the administration and the staff of the medical facility how to eliminate existed inadequacies in living and treatment, medical care and documentation and to bring them into compliance with national and international legislation, including the UN and European relevant principles and standards and those that might be overcome on-site. me on-site.