The adherence to these laws and rules varies from one prison to the other and there is no
uniform method of medical examination that is followed at every prison. During inspections
it was observed that, except in BATRP, prisoners in all other prisons are subjected to a
medical examination upon admission. A medical examination upon admission was not done
in BATRP at the time of the Commission’s inspections since there was no designated doctor
for the prison. However, during a follow up visit, the Commission was informed that two
doctors have been assigned to treat prisoners in BATRP and that they visit the prison on
weekdays, for one hour. If a prisoner is brought to BATRP during the weekend, the usual
practice is to examine the prisoner the following Monday.
According to the quantitative data, 73% of female remandees and 64% of male remandees
were provided medical assistance upon request, at the time of their admission. Among the
male respondents, 50% in GRP, 50% in PCP and 47% in NMRP received medical assistance
upon request, as opposed to 87% in KGRP and 77% in JRP. The lack of a medical examination
of prisoners upon entrance, therefore, also prevents inmates from being able to receive
medical attention, if they require it at the time of admission.
MOs of each prison follow different practices with regard to the medical examination process
upon admission. During inspections it was observed that an individual medical file is
maintained for each prisoner by the MO of the NRP to record the medical details of the
prisoners upon admission to the prison. However, it cannot be concluded that this process
is being followed in all other prisons, as it was only observed at the NRP. Furthermore, as the
MO of NRP informed the Commission, all the details required by file, such as the medical
investigations (page 4 of the File- photo 6.20), are not completed because the prisoner is only
subject to a basic medical examination and not an extensive medical screening.
The MO at GRP stated that when prisoners are released on bail the morning after the day
they were remanded and admitted to prison, they would not be subjected to a medical checkup due to the short duration spent in prison.
When questioned about the medical conditions for which the person is examined, such as
pregnancy, elevated lipids/blood sugar, high blood pressure, mental health problems and
traumatic brain injuries, 86% MOs interviewed stated that they test for mental health
problems, 71% check for elevated lipids/blood sugar and 43% MOs interviewed stated that
they check whether the prisoner is pregnant. The MOs of all prisons stated that they examine
the blood pressure upon admission of a prisoner.
The details recorded during the initial medical check-up are now regulated according to the
“Initial Health Screening Form for Inmates”, which was introduced by the International
Committee of Red Cross (hereinafter referred to as ICRC) as a Pilot Prison Health Project in
MCP and CRP. The process, which is still in the pilot stage, aims to ensure that an initial health
screening will be carried out by a doctor or a nurse within the first twenty-four hours of an
inmate’s arrival at the prison. The form helps identify acute healthcare needs, including
illnesses, injuries, contagious diseases, severe mental health conditions and suicidal
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