Access to treatment in prison: an inventory of medication preparation and distribution approaches

Abstract

The preparation and distribution of medication in prisons or jails are critical for individuals to access their treatment. This process is resource-intensive for healthcare professionals and may violate principles of confidentiality, autonomy, respect, and dignity if non-qualified staff are involved. However, there are no published best practices on the topic. This report aims to bridge this gap by presenting the results of a mapping exercise on different models of medication preparation and delivery. Authors call upon healthcare professionals to enrich this live document to inform health services research further and improve access to prescribed medications for people experiencing incarceration.

Do Personal Nurse-Initiated Medication Boxes Work in Prison? A Cross-Sectional Study Involving Incarcerated Persons and Prison Officers in a Swiss Prison

“…Focusing on prescribed medications, their preparation forms a significant part of the daily activities of medical staff as to allow individuals to timely access to their treatment. By relying on prison officers or even fellow incarcerated individuals, many models of medication preparation and distribution in prison do not adhere to standards of quality of care, autonomy, confidentiality, and respect and dignity ( Tran et al, 2020 ). In some of the worst instances of poor quality of care and disempowerment, tablets are crushed, mixed with water, and given to patients who must take it under direct staff supervision.…”