The group of cases NEVMERZHITSKY v. Ukraine (No. 54825/00) brings together all cases concerning, among other prison issues,violations of Articles 3 and 13 of the Convention due toovercrowding and poor material conditions andlack of access to adequate medical care in places of detention (problems with treatment of viral diseases, use of handcuffs in civilian hospitals, lack of palliative care, access to specialised medical care, replacement therapy, etc.), as well as lack of preventive and compensatory measures in relation to these issues.
The submission of the EPLN and the Ukrainian NGO KHPG aims to assist the Committee of Ministers in its examination of this group of cases and to draw attention to the continuing problems regarding the lack of access to adequate medical care in Ukraine and the need for a much stronger commitment of the authorities to effectively protecting the right of prisoners to health protection, which requires a massive reform plan. The Communication also reports that there have been no significant developments with regard to conditions of detention or remedies. It invites the CM to separate the examination of groups of cases concerning access to health care in prison from those concerning material conditions of detention, as the necessary reforms involve distinct responses, actors and timeframes.
