the prison. However, the current pandemic situation has amplified the risk of infection to those who are detained. The international standards and norms guarantee access to healthcare in prisons. The provision of healthcare in prisons is a crucial element of the prison management. The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, as embodied in the Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ESCR), applies to everybody, including prisoners. Besides, the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules)43 specifically emphasises that the provision of healthcare for prisoners is a responsibility of the State and adds significant details to the overall principles, scope, and composition of healthcare services in prisons. 44 Furthermore, duties of healthcare professionals are enhanced in line with principles that their relationship with prisoners is governed by the same ethical and professional standards of rules applicable to patients in the community. Another important international standards and norms is the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules). The rules are crucial to protect the rights of women offenders and prisoners. The Bangkok Rules responds to different needs of women and girls in prisons including healthcare.45 It provides guidance on a wide range of prison management such as healthcare, programs in detention, training of prison staffs, visiting rights and so forth. The rules require a gender specific healthcare service, at least equivalent to those available in the community shall be provided to women prisoners.46 UNODC responded quickly to requests from member states to deal with prison management during COVID-19. In September 2020, UNODC with the generous support of the US Department of State had launched a new project targeting Southeast Asian and South Asian countries to strengthen the preparedness and resilience of the prison the current and future public health emergencies. The project seeks to realise three outcomes in two years as below: i. Prison systems are prepared with adequate strategies against public health emergencies, including COVID-19. ii. Prison officers have the knowledge and capacity to contribute to pandemic preparedness and to implement response measures. iii. Prison systems are equipped with adequate facilities and infrastructure against public health emergencies. Among the achievements of the project are as below: i. Online Survey on Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) in the Philippines which started in May 2021 with over 6,000 responses from a cross-section 43 The UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules) which was revised in 2015 constitutes the universally acknowledged minimum standards for the management of prison facilities and treatment of prisoners. 44 Nelson Mandela (Rules 24-27; 29-35). 45 Bangkok Rules (Rule 6-18). 46 Bangkok Rules (Rule 10.1). 25