Fifteen years of the WHO Health in Prisons Project

The Health in Prison Project is a 15 year old program of WHO Europe that includes representatives from 37 member states. It acts to support member states in improving public health by addressing health and health care in prisons, and to facilitate the links between prison health and public health systems at both national and international levels. The promotion of cooperation and integration of best practices and public health into prison medicine helps reverse health inequalities. Strategies such as opiate substitution, needle exchange and continuity of care have been successful for HIPP members. By creating partnerships among appropriate government agencies, penal managers and practitioners, NGOs and advocates HIPP facilitates the dissemination of successful programs, and provides technical support and encouragement for change. The partnerships between government and NGOs allow the development of policy and program that avoid the narrowness and superficial reactivity of political expedience and election campaign posturing that is so common in the US.