There is a shortage of medical equipment and medicine in correctional institutions in the Rivne region

There is a shortage of equipment and medicine in correctional institutions of the Rivne region. Members of the medical commission of the Rivne Regional Council, who inspected two such institutions, reached this conclusion. In their opinion, the reason is insufficient funding.

This was reported to a ZAXID.NET correspondent by the head of the Regional Council’s standing commission on motherhood and childhood, Vira Kobylianska.

“We inspected the Rivne pre-trial detention centre and the Dubno educational colony. In general, there are no problems with containment in these institutions, however, the procedure for taking tests, registering, and treatment is far from perfect. Today, we know that the incidence of HIV and tuberculosis in the colonies is 5 times higher.”

Today, almost 500 people are in the Rivne pre-trial detention centre. Among them are those severely ill with cancer, tuberculosis, and diabetes mellitus. “However, the institution is funded on a residual basis, so there is not enough money to replace equipment and purchase medical supplies,” said the head of the Rivne pre-trial detention centre, Yuriy Tkachuk.

“Sometimes we are forced to involve the relatives of those who are in detention,” he noted.

“There are no convicts with dangerous diseases in the Dubno colony. However, there are enough problems, as the equipment is already worn out,” reported the head of the medical unit of the Dubno educational colony, Mykhailo Dolishniy. “The physical therapy room needs repairs, and the dental unit is horrific; I would not risk putting my own child in that chair, and similarly, the convicts are someone’s children. The unit is from either the 60s or the 73rd year of manufacture.”

The Regional Council commission on motherhood and childhood plans to prepare an appeal for the session of the Regional Council to help people who are in correctional institutions by 31 October.