Abstract
Health law in prisons aims to achieve a difficult-to-achieve objective: equivalence of care with that provided to the general population. Declarations of intent are multiplying, and guarantees are gradually being improved thanks to constantly evolving case law. However, the fact remains that, despite the progress made, health care for prisoners suffers from a number of shortcomings, which give way to a growing concern for safety. Meanwhile, the budget for prison construction continues to grow, while the budget for health care in detention shows clear signs of weakness. Both budgets are heavily dependent on state authorities. Unfortunately, it is undeniable that current policy does not seem inclined to engage in a serious, in-depth discussion on the future of the prison system, despite the growing influence of the European Court of Human Rights. In line with this, this thesis calls for urgent reform of penal policy and, by extension, public health policy in prisons.