[Correspondence] Health care criminalised in Italian immigration detention centres

AI Summary

The correspondence describes immigration detention centres in Italy as posing substantial health risks, including infectious disease, chronic illness, and mental-health harms. It cites concerns about poor conditions, inadequate care, excessive medication, limited transparency, and alleged mistreatment by police.

Immigration detention centres in Italy constitute a substantive health risk for detainees, including risks of infectious and non-communicable diseases and mental health problems1,2 A 2024 report3 highlighted poor material conditions, an excessive focus on security alongside inconsistent health-care quality, over-medication of detainees with the use of psychotropic drugs, poor-quality food, and minimal transparency in the management of immigration detention centres.4 The report further warned about the excessive use of force by police officers and psychological and physical ill-treatment.