AUSÊNCIA TRÁGICA: A TARDIA EMERGÊNCIA DAS QUESTÕES DE SAÚDE NO AMBIENTE PENITENCIÁRIO

Abstract

This work aims to identify and analyze how the issue of health in prisons appears as theme relevant to the understanding of the 'tragedy' of the brazilian prison system (PS). The methodological approach used was the documentary research and literature, which served as tools to contextualize the problem and also to justify theoretically the subject of this study. We use as documentary sources: the publications of the Jornal do Brasil; public health policies for the Brazilian PS; and institutional documents. The time frame was delimited between 1990 and 2003. Period that includes the year of free elections after the end of the military dictatorship, until the year in which the National Health Plan for the Prison System (NHPPS) was established. From the documentary research and theoretical basis under portray the 'tragedy' of SP by the description of riots that occurred in prisons in Brazil; we cover the relationship between prison ambience and the occurrence of riots; approach the emergence of infectious diseases in the prison environment, specifically HIV/AIDS, hepatitis and tuberculosis; reflect how health is related to the humanization; expose as Brazil joined the international provisions of the DH; and we analyze some aspects recommended in the National Health Plan for the Prison System. At the end of this study, we conclude, on the counter that was discussed on health at international level, and even national, the illustration of the 'tragedy' in the PS indicates that the Brazilian prison environment was abandoned locus. However, we understand that the imposition of a public policy of health for the Brazilian prison population – the National Policy on Integral Health Care of Persons Deprived of Liberty in Prisons (PDLP) – can be seen as recognition and as a breakthrough of the Brazilian government before the need for health care in this population.