‘Govt to upgrade health facilities in 43 jail hospitals’

LAHORE:The Punjab government, on the special directive of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, will chalk out a comprehensive plan to upgrade health facilities at all 43 jail hospitals, ensuring better health cover to all inmates across the province.

Senior Superintendent of Police Central Jail Kot Lakhpat Chaudhry Ijaz Asghar, a member of the committee, headed by both health ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique and Khawaja Imran Nazir, said on Sunday the initiative was aimed at ensuring better healthcare for prisoners, aligning with the government’s commitment to upholding their welfare and improving public health standards.

The upgrade would include modernising medical equipment, enhancing infrastructure, and increasing the availability of essential medicines. He said both ministers, during their maiden meeting, emphasised that providing quality healthcare to prisoners was a crucial aspect of the justice system, ensuring that inmates receive the same level of care as the general population.

He said this initiative reflects the Punjab government’s broader strategy to reform the prison system, promoting rehabilitation over punishment. By addressing health disparities and improving living conditions, the government aims to reduce recidivism and aid in the successful reintegration of prisoners into society.

This commitment to enhancing healthcare services in jails underscores the government’s dedication to creating a more just and humane correctional system. He said Inspector General of Prisons Punjab Mian Farooq Nazeer has already ordered the deployment of mobile dental and eye camps in all jails for medical checkups of prisoners.

He said first-ever mobile dental camp in the history of prisons was held successfully at camp jail under the supervision of Superintendent Zaheer Ahmad Virk where screening of all 6,401 prisoners was conducted in 12 days.