THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IN PRISON: RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY AND REPORT Part II: Quantitative Research and Analysis Health Status (Q: 1245) 3.9 According to the data, 64 per cent (3,463) answered that they were healthy in terms of their physical health at the time of the survey (Table 4). Table 4: Health Status Men Women Total Healthy 2974 (64%) 489 (65%) 3463 (64%) Satisfactory 945 (20%) 140 (19%) 1085 (20%) Unhealthy 754 (16%) 127 (17%) 881 (16%) 4673 (100%) 756 (100%) 5429 (100%) Total 50 (0.9% of the total 5479) No Response Source: Human Rights Commission of Malaysia, 2014 Medical Records46 (Q: 1347) 3.10 A medical file should be compiled for each prisoner that contains diagnostic information and all records of the prisoner’s history, including any special examinations that he/she has undergone.48 In this regard, 77 per cent (4,160) reported that the prison authorities obtained their medical records upon admission (Table 5). However, as observed by the Commission, this practice was not standardised across all prisons although compulsory by virtue of Regulation 18 of the Prison Regulations 2000. In question 12, the respondents were asked about their opinion on their physical health. The answer choices were “healthy”, “satisfactory” or “unhealthy”. 46 Article 24 of the Standard Minimum Rules requires the existence of a medical file on every prisoner which documents their condition upon arrival and any medical interventions that may occur thereafter: “The medical officer shall see and examine every prisoner as soon as possible after his admission and thereafter as necessary, with a view particularly to the discovery of physical or mental illness and the taking of all necessary measures; the segregation of prisoners suspected of infectious or contagious conditions; the noting of physical or mental defects which might hamper rehabilitation, and the determination of the physical capacity of every prisoner for work.” 47 In question 13, the respondents were asked whether the prison authorities obtained their health records during the receiving process. The answer choices were “yes”, “no” or “not sure”. 48 PRISON HEALTH CARE AND MEDICAL ETHICS: A manual for health-care workers and other prison staff with responsibility for prisoners’ well-being by Andres Lehtmets and Jörg Pont. Accessed via http://www.coe.int/t/dgi/ criminallawcoop/Presentation/Documents/Publications_HealthCare_manual_Web_A5_E.pdf on 19/2/2016. 45 36