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Inmates refuse food and medication at Korydallos

Inmates held in at Korydallos prison hospital are refusing food and medication as part of a protest campaign against what they see as dire conditions in the institutition.

Inmates held in Greece's only prison “Agios Savvas” Korydallos hospital are refusing food and medication as part of a protest campaign against what they see as dire conditions in the institution. Protesters posted statements on Facebook and Twitter saying at least 178 of the inmates have been refusing prison food for the past week

The hospital in the Korydallos prison complex west of Athens is designed to hold 60 men but currently houses more than 200, rights groups. Many are HIV positive and many others suffer from communicable diseases such as tuberculosis, hepatitis and scabies.

Protesters posted statements on Facebook and Twitter saying at least 178 of the inmates have been refusing prison food for the past week, while those among them who are HIV positive have been refusing to take anti-retroviral drugs in an attempt to draw attention to their plight.

Greek prisons have suffered under an increase in inmate numbers and decrease in staff and funding over the past few years, exacerbated by the country's severe financial crisis.

The Korydallos hospital is the only facility inside the penitentiary system where sick inmates can be housed. The institution has seen a dramatic increase in the number of HIV positive inmates, who serve their sentences in the hospital even if they are not otherwise sick. Staff say about 140-150 of those held there are HIV positive.

A rider is expected to be voted in Parliament tomorrow, allowing the release of inmates serving prison sentences of less than 10 years who suffer from very serious health problems.

Female inmates, who have their underage children with them, will also be released. For inmates to be eligible, they must have served at least two fifths of their sentence.

Inmates serving time for terrorism, pedophiles, as well as members of criminal organizations and those convicted of fraudulent acts against the state will be excluded from the measure.

Meanwhile, the Justice Ministry announced that the Korydallos Prison "Agios Savvas" hospital will be reinforced with additional nursing staff.