North Macedonia Ombudsman reports healthcare crisis in prisons

A report by the Ombudsman of North Macedonia has raised alarms regarding the state of healthcare across 11 correctional institutions in the country. Key issues identified include severe medical staff shortages, long waits for specialist consultations, and interruptions in medical therapy.

In the Idrizovo prison, a single doctor is responsible for approximately 691 inmates, while one nurse or medical technician serves about 461 people. This significantly exceeds international standards, which suggest one doctor per 300 inmates. The report also noted overcrowding in seven of the 11 institutions, with four providing healthcare only periodically or on an as-needed basis.

Additional systemic challenges include a lack of vehicles and personnel to transport inmates to medical facilities, delays in diagnostics and receiving medical results, and difficulties in distributing medication. Ombudsman Faton Selami emphasized that the state must guarantee the right to quality healthcare to all citizens, regardless of their incarcerated status. Kilian Val, head of the OSCE Mission in Skopje, added that access to healthcare is a fundamental human right requiring institutional commitment.