Taking a serious view of the inadequate health facilities in the Punjab prisons, Mr. Sarwan Singh Phillaur, Jail Minister Punjab has asked the Principal Secretary health to immediately ensure adequate health amenities and the attendance of medical and paramedical staff deputed in the Jails.In a statement issued here today, the Minister expressed serious concern over the unfortunate medical conditions prevailing in the jails especially in Faridkot jail where 11 inmates died since January this year. The Minister said that the government has already initiated Magisterial/ Judicial inquiry over these deaths. He however said that two of the convicts committed suicide while three of them were reportedly serious drug addicts who were arrested recently died in the Faridkot hospital. Detailed reports from the forensic laboratory determining the presence of drugs in the system of the deceased in this regard were awaited, he said.
He has also asked the health department not to shift the deputed doctors and other staff without a proper replacement that too with prior intimation to the Jail authorities. He has also asked the Superintendents of Jails to thoroughly examine the arrested convict and prepare a complete medical file at the time of arrest. The family of the arrested person would also be consulted in case he is suffering from some chronic ailment at the time of arrest.The Principal Secretary Health has assured the Minister that the department of Health would ensure the presence of adequate medical staff in the Jails through some rotational system and would make sure the presence of adequate medical staff in the Jails with required medical equipment ensuring the proper medical care to the prisoners.
The Minister has also asked the ADGP Prisons, Mr. R.P. Meena to monitor the presence of the medical and paramedical staff in all the 25 jails in the state on daily basis. He has also directed the jail authorities to send the daily report regarding the presence of the doctors and other staff to the ADGP everyday by evening through e-mail. He has asked them to ensure the proper compliance of the government’s directive. Suitable departmental action would be initiated against the erring officers, said Mr. Phillaur.