[Healthcare in Prisons: reflections on the inertia of systems and the low effectiveness of health policies in Spain]

Abstract

The blockage in implementing transfer of prison health care to regional governments is a problematic social and health care issue, and also brings to light major institutional and political weaknesses. This article considers the power dynamics between administrations and levels, highlighting the subordinate nature of the health care agendas with regard to political and economic ones, as well as the sizeable capacity for blockage created by the environment itself. Within this context, some strategies are proposed to improve the future feasibility of the integration of prison health into the National Health System, based on the awareness of the need to accumulate power and influence, promote service improvements to increase the attractiveness and desirability of prison health, and the acceptance of more extended time scales so that cultural changes may take root.