THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IN PRISON:
RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY AND REPORT
1.31 The Commission notes that the overall responses to the survey by prison
staff were not strong to support the concerns that were raised during the
interviews by the Commission. For example, while the findings showed
that 63% reported being very healthy, almost all staff interviewed informed
the Commission that they experienced high stress levels, burnout, frequent
overtime shifts due to understaffing, fatigue and exposure to communicable
diseases.
1.32 Furthermore, in a few prisons, not all staff were aware of the Commission’s
thematic study. Some staff stationed at the prison blocks were not given the
opportunity to respond to the survey questionnaire. Unfortunately, prison
staff who were selected as respondents were mostly among administrative
staff.11
1.33 The Commission observed that there were repeat respondents in Kajang
Prison during the survey. This resulted in the Commission having to repeat
its survey in that prison.
11
At the outset, it was agreed that the Prisons Department would select all respondents for the survey.
9