Ward for prisoners in hospital in Padua, Soranzo: «The right to health applies to everyone»

"If the civilization of a country is measured by its prisons, we can say that in Veneto we have taken a further step forward, guaranteeing health and at the same time safety to both prisoners and especially to prison guards who work side by side with prisoners in the district and prison facilities. I believe that the certainty of punishment is important, but at the same time that the punishment is fair and never detrimental to the rights of citizens who have committed crimes and who are serving their prison sentences or are awaiting trial": with these words Enoch Soranzo, vice president of the Regional Council of Veneto, comments on the activation of the Protected Medicine department for prisoners of the Due Palazzi inside the hospital in Padua.

The opening of the department, which consists of two rooms with three beds each in addition to services dedicated to prison police officers, had been promised by Undersecretary Del Mastro on the sidelines of a recent visit to the Padua prison at the invitation of Enoch Soranzo. Soranzo himself states: «The full operation of the new protected medicine department is a result of the constant work we have put in place by teaming up with the national Government and the Hospital Trust. My thanks go to Undersecretary Del Mastro who has committed to unblocking the final steps of this process: in Padua this structure also means a lot in terms of safety for the patients of the hospital departments who will no longer have to live in promiscuous situations with the guests of the prison on Via Due Palazzi. The right to health is guaranteed by our Constitution which also provides that the objective of the Republic is not to throw away the key, as is often said populistically, but rather the recovery of the prisoner. I am convinced that a service like this also restores dignity to our prison police officers, men and women who will therefore be able to work in the hospital detachment in slightly more comfortable and less stressful conditions. My personal thanks always go to them as a citizen even before as Vice President of the Region: an important part of our security is the result of their efforts",