THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IN PRISON: RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY AND REPORT 25. (1) The medical officer shall have the care of the physical and mental health of the prisoners and should daily see all sick prisoners, all who complain of illness, and any prisoner to whom his attention is specially directed. (2) The medical officer shall report to the director whenever he considers that a prisoner’s physical or mental health has been or will be injuriously affected by continued imprisonment or by any condition of imprisonment. 26. (1) The medical officer shall regularly inspect and advise the director upon: (a) The quantity, quality, preparation and service of food; (b) The hygiene and cleanliness of the institution and the prisoners; (c) The sanitation, heating, lighting and ventilation of the institution; (d) The suitability and cleanliness of the prisoners’ clothing and bedding; (e) The observance of the rules concerning physical education and sports, in cases where there is no technical personnel in charge of these activities. (2) The director shall take into consideration the reports and advice that the medical officer submits according to rules 25 (2) and 26 and, in case he concurs with the recommendations made, shall take immediate steps to give effect to those recommendations; if they are not within his competence or if he does not concur with them, he shall immediately submit his own report and the advice of the medical officer to higher authority. 2.31 The Prison Act 1995 consolidates the duties and procedures related to prisons, prisoners and other related matters. Although the Act does not make specific reference to health care, it prescribes the appointment of Medical and Dental Officers for prisons. 2.32 Sections 14 (1) and (2) of the Act state that the Minister charged with the responsibility for health services shall, whenever the circumstances permit, appoint from the staff of the Ministry of Health a Medical Officer and a Dental Officer for each prison and if the circumstances do not permit an appointment under subsection (1), the Minister charged with the responsibility for health services may appoint any registered medical practitioner or any registered dentist to be the Medical Officer or Dental Officer of any particular prison. 25