Hyderabad: Jailed to die?

May 15, 2008

Jailed to die?

Wednesday May 14 2008 12:30 IST

Vikram Sharma. HYDERABAD: All is not well in 143 jails across Andhra

Pradesh. Blame it on the prison department or the medical staff

treating prisoners suffering from various ailments, including HIV,

the number of prisoners who died due to ill-health since 2002 stands

at a shocking 722!

And in the first quarter of this year alone, as many as 34 prisoners

have died! What is even more surprising is the fact that prisoners in

the agegroup of 27 to 35 comprise the largest number of fatalies. And

there have been some aged around 40 too. The prison authorities cite

cardiac problems, jaundice, tuberculosis and HIV.

As per the recommendations of the All-India Committee on Prison

Reforms, three medical officers have to be made available for every

1,000 prisoners, and one lady doctor for 25 women prisoners. While

there are four sanctioned posts for Deputy Civil Surgeons, one is

vacant. Seven of the 26 sanctioned posts for Civil Assistant Surgeons

are vacant as also is the sole post of civil surgeon. Six of the 32

sanctioned pharmacist posts are vacant, five of the eight staff nurse

posts, two of the six pathologist posts, similar numbers for lab

technicians, and the dental assistant surgeon's post is also vacant.

" These vacancies will be filled shortly. The Government should direct

the Health Department to assume responsibility for the medical needs

of prisoners. "

What is even more surprising is the fact that though the All-India

Committee on Prison Reforms recommends that all prisons should have a

team of psychiatrists and psychologists, these services are

unavailable. On average, the number of people entering or leaving

jails is about two lakh each year. The official defence for the sorry

state of affairs is: " We have doctors, but as per guidelines, we

cannot medically examine any prisoner unless he gives his consent. "

vikramsharma@...

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