The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have launched an online system to enhance healthcare services for people deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the bureau’s facilities.
Upon entry into detention facilities, the Health Information System (HIS) project ensures that all PDLs receive medical screening and assessment. Their health histories and concerns are carefully documented. These records will be used to develop data-driven healthcare policies for the jail system.
Through this project, every PDL will have their own health records, and all 486 BJMP facilities will submit monthly health reports based on the collected data.
The project was given to the BJMP by the ICRC during the handover rites at the Novotel in Cubao, Quezon City, on October 15, 2024.
“After more than three years of purposive team efforts between ICRC and the BJMP health team, we hope to continue achieving 100 percent correctness of basic health data and generate accurate health information that will help us address pressing challenges in jails,” said Ruel Rivera, BJMP chief, and Jail Director.
Malgorzata Klein, ICRC Philippines Head of Support, noted the difficulties that health workers in detention facilities face, which involved working in high-security environments with limited resources. The initiative will help address healthcare in detention facilities and share valuable data with the Department of Health for health surveillance.
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