Prisons and health

At any given time, over 2 million people are imprisoned in penal institutions in Europe. A prison sentence often entails an increased risk of becoming seriously ill or a lost opportunity to recover from an existing illness or dependency. Prisoners who are healthy on entry have a considerable risk of leaving prison with HIV, tuberculosis, a drug problem or poor mental health. Those who enter with a drug or other health-related problem often leave without having received proper medical attention.