Prisoners will have better continuity of medical care while in custody and after they return to their communities following the introduction of the Patient Information System, PATISPlus, within the Fiji Corrections Service.
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the Fiji Corrections Service have launched the digital patient record system, to better connect healthcare provided in correctional facilities with Fiji's wider public health system.
Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Penioni Ravunawa says people in custody are entitled to proper healthcare delivered with dignity, confidentiality and professional respect.
Ravunawa says most prisoners will eventually return to their families and communities, and their medical care should not end when they leave a correctional facility.
He says PATISPlus will allow authorised health professionals to access relevant medical information and make informed decisions about a prisoner's treatment.
Ravunawa says this means that when someone enters a correctional facility, necessary treatment can continue, and when they are released, the health system will be better placed to continue their care.
The system will assist in managing conditions including tuberculosis, HIV, diabetes, hypertension and mental health issues, as well as medication and other ongoing treatment.
Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Auta Moceisuva says the system will also help FCS manage illnesses and health conditions that may continue to affect prisoners after their release.
FCS medical officials say PATISPlus will address some of the challenges associated with paper-based and fragmented medical records, where staff previously had to make phone calls or visits to obtain a prisoner's medical information.
Ravunawa says the information available through the system will also help authorities better understand health issues within correctional facilities and plan for staffing, medicines, equipment and other resources.
He stresses that prisoners' medical information must remain confidential and should only be accessed by authorised personnel for legitimate purposes.
