THE RIGHT TO HEALTH IN PRISON: RESULTS OF A NATIONWIDE SURVEY AND REPORT 3.13 In accordance with international guidelines, the Commission advises that a medical file should be compiled for each patient, containing diagnostic information as well as an on-going record of the patient’s evolution and of any special examinations he or she has undergone. In the event of a transfer, the file should be forwarded to the doctors in the receiving establishment.49 Quarantine and Medical Examination (Q: 14, 1550) 3.14 Upon admission, prisoners are usually taken to a records office for processing and screening. This involves being quarantined. Ideally, during this time, the Prisons Department shall conduct medical, mental health and dental examinations: Regulation 18 (1) of the Prison Regulations 2000: “Every prisoner shall, as soon as possible after his admission, be separately examined by the Medical Officer, who shall enter in the Prisoner’s Record particulars of the prisoner’s state of health and any other particulars as he may deem necessary.” 3.15 Although there is no frame time specified, the Commission was informed that the initial medical assessment is usually done within the first 24 hours of admission. 3.16 75 per cent (4,085) reported that underwent a medical assessment in prison, out of which 53 per cent51 (2,173) stated that this was following an order from the authorities. 39 per cent (1,514) reported that they underwent a medical assessment for health reasons while 14 per cent (776) said that they were quarantined for health reasons during their imprisonment. Observations of the Committee against Torture on the revision of the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (SMR). 50 In questions 14 and 15, the respondents were asked if they were quarantined for health reason and whether they underwent any medical assessment in prison, as well as the reasons. 51 Percentage based on a total of 4085 prisoners who reported that they underwent a medical assessment in prison. 49 38