At present, medical service for detainees and prisoners does not comply with
international standards of medical service in penal institutions and the right of every
citizen to medical service and health protection stated in the Constitution of the Russian
Federation. About 95 per cent of medical institutions are situated in unsuitable
buildings; due to lack of space it is impossible to open necessary laboratories and
departments. Medical personnel is unable to make correct diagnosis and treat people at a
modern level without modern equipment. TB patients in SIZOs
(the pre-trial centers) are in the most difficult situation. For these reasons, planned
operations were postponed in many hospitals. It is more difficult to render qualified
medical help due to the insufficient number of medical staff with 75 per cent of doctors
needed. Blocks for TB infected prisoners in SIZOs of many
big cities are overcrowded, even more so than common cells.
