Council of Europe Boosts Moldova Prison Healthcare
Special Status Penitentiary No. 16 - Pruncul has received a donation of medical equipment. The event was attended by Bjorn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who was visiting the Republic of Moldova.
The donation includes patient monitors, electric surgical tables, electroencephalography devices, examination lamps, portable ultrasound scanners, and mobile devices. This equipment will significantly enhance the quality of medical care provided for inmates who require transfer to Penitentiary No. 16 - Pruncul (Hospital).
"Improving prison conditions, including the provision of quality medical services for all detainees, is a top priority for the Ministry of Justice," stated Veronica Mihailov-Moraru, Minister of Justice. "Equipping prison medical facilities with modern equipment will contribute to better medical care for those deprived of liberty and safeguard their right to health. We deeply appreciate the Council of Europe Office in Chisinau for this valuable contribution and its unwavering support of our efforts to create humane detention conditions in line with international standards."
"The outstanding cooperation and partnership between the Council of Europe and Moldovan authorities consistently yields positive results," emphasised Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General of the CoE. "This collaboration allows us to elevate the standards of healthcare within prisons, thereby improving the long-term health and well-being of inmates."
The donation was facilitated by the CoE project "Consolidating the reform of the penitentiary and probation system, ensuring medical care and treatment of patients in closed-type institutions in the Republic of Moldova." This follows an initial equipment donation in 2020, also provided by the CoE.
During his visit, the Council of Europe official delivered a lecture at the State University of Moldova. The topic focused on gender equality and the significance of the Istanbul Convention, to which Moldova recently became a signatory.
Berge also met with Moldovan officials, including Minister of Justice Veronica Mihailov-Moraru and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Cuc. These meetings reaffirmed the shared commitment to upholding human rights and the core values of the Council of Europe in the Republic of Moldova.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
