Azerbaijan, Baku, Nov. 19 /Trend, K.Zarbaliyeva /
About 6,000 prisoners have passed massive examination in Azerbaijan for the ten months of this year, head of the medical department of the Justice Ministry Rafael Mehdiyev told Trend.
"The purpose of the medical examination of detainees is to identify the disease and treat them. The examination of prisoners found mainly chronic diseases. If necessary, in order to clarify the diagnosis, some prisoners will pass additional examination, they will be transferred to hospitals for the comprehensive examination," Mehdiyev said.
According to him, during the examination, much attention is paid to the identification of tuberculosis. As a result of mass examination, the patients with chronic diseases are treated.
According to Mehdiyev, the specialists of the Health Ministry are involved in the treatment of inmates. These activities aim to approach the level of medical services provided to prisoners to the level of medical services rendered in the civilian sector.
"Over ten months of this year, 130 prisoners were examined by experts of the Health Ministry. 42 prisoners passed instrumental examination in health facilities of the Health Ministry. Nine prisoners were made operation of varying complexity, seven prisoners were operated in the medical institution of the Penal Service," said Mehtiyev.
According to him, in connection with prisoners with AIDS, ARV-therapy (Anti Retro Virus) has been introduced in the prisons since 2007 and this year 70 inmates were involved in ARV-therapy.
"Prisoners with hepatitis B and C are also being treated in hospital," he said.
According to Mehdiyev, prisoners are provided with comprehensive medical care and treatment facilities are equipped with all necessary medicines.
Touching upon the information that prisoners are provided with medicines by their families, Mehdiyev said prisoners have the right to invite physicians from the civil sector, to purchase more expensive medicines with the help of their families. "We can not go against their wishes," said Mehdiyev.