Sojourn in hell

HRW report paints a bleak picture of Pakistani prisons and their healthcare facilities

LAHORE:

Jail authorities in Pakistan have systematically deprived prisoners of adequate healthcare facilities, leaving thousands at the risk of disease and death, says a 55-page report recently released by the Human Rights Watch (HRW).

Titled as “A Nightmare for Everyone: The Health Care Crisis in Pakistan’s Prisons,” the report brings to light the dilapidated condition of the prison healthcare system in Pakistan.

According to the report, Pakistani jails with a population of over 88,000 inmates are among the most overcrowded jails in the world with cells meant for three prisoners often holding up to 15 prisoners.

It said severe overcrowding has compounded existing health deficiencies in prisons, leaving inmates vulnerable to communicable diseases and unable to access medicine and treatment for even basic health needs. Apart from being overcrowded, they also lack sufficient healthcare facilities.

"The number of designated posts for medical officers for all prisons in Pakistan was 193, but as of 2020, 105 of these posts were vacant. Moreover, only Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) province had approved two posts for dentists and even those were vacant.

“Similarly, there were 106 approved posts for psychologists in Punjab and Balochistan, but none in Sindh and the K-P; but 62 of these were vacant. Punjab’s 41 prisons had only 42 doctors, 6 medical labs and 30 ambulances; the K-P’s 20 prisons had only 17 doctors, 7 medical labs and 6 ambulances.”

It said Balochistan’s 11 prisons had only 9 doctors, 2 labs and 4 ambulances; and Sindh’s 24 prisons had only 17 doctors and 5 labs while the number for ambulances in prisons of Sindh could not be confirmed.

The study also quoted a 2015 report by the Federal Ombudsman of Pakistan.

According to the ombudsman report the Central Jail Rawalpindi, with an inmate population of 4,748, had a 55-bed hospital with an electrocardiogram (ECG), ultrasound, X-ray and clinical lab facilities but lacked sufficient toilets and medical staff.

“Out of 709 positions [for medical professionals], 193 were vacant, including the positions for a women medical officer, nursing assistant, dispensers, X-ray machine attendant and female dispenser.”

The report found that the clinic, dispensary and mini lab at Quetta district jail were operated by one doctor. All serious cases were sent to the nearby civil hospital by the jail’s ambulance. The jail had 800 to 900 inmates.

The central jail in Haripur, with a population of 1,772 inmates, had a 40-bed hospital managed by two medical officers. This hospital lacked an ECG machine, suction machine, X-ray films, oxygen cylinders, hepatitis diagnostic kits, enteric fever/typhoid diagnostic tests, and basic medicines like hydrating salts.

The study observed that when an orthopedic surgeon from the district hospital was called on to examine the prisoners, most of them were found to be suffering from osteoporosis due to prolonged confinement and lack of opportunities for physical exercise.

"A 2014 report by the nongovernmental Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), based on inspection of 12 prisons of different types across the four provinces, found that the jail hospitals and dispensaries left much to be desired.”

It said none of the 12 jails had sufficient amount or variety of medication. The dispensaries were critically understaffed and ill-equipped with as few as 3 beds for a prison population of 300.

“The in-house doctors put the number of patients visiting each day in central prisons at 100 but the supply of medication was severely lacking. Prisoners complained of long waiting lists and inferior quality of medication," it said.