In a move to strengthen healthcare services in jails, the Haryana Prisons Department has issued detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) mandating comprehensive medical screening of all inmates within 24 hours of their entry or re-entry into prisons.
The SOPs are aimed at ensuring early detection of communicable diseases, chronic illnesses, mental health conditions and substance abuse, enabling timely referral and treatment as per established medical protocols.
Under the new guidelines, all new inmates, as well as those returning from interim bail, parole, furlough, police remand, hospitalisation or transfer from other jails, will undergo mandatory screening within a day of entering prison premises.
“The examination goes beyond the initial reception check and is designated to ensure early detection of health issues before integration into the general prison population. The screening shall include a thorough physical examination covering all major systems of the body, a structured mental health assessment to identify conditions such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse, or suicidal tendencies, and essential diagnostic tests such as blood and urine analysis, chest X-ray where indicated, tuberculosis screening etc,” read the SOPs.
According to data compiled by the department, 512 HIV-positive inmates are currently lodged in the state’s 20 prisons, while 83 are suffering from tuberculosis. The number of drug addicts stands at 352, with 1,263 inmates having undergone de-addiction treatment.
“Some medical tests were randomly conducted at the time of admission even previously. However, we have attempted to streamline the process by issuing SOPs and laying down mandatory tests for all prisoners. We have got some insights and it has become easier to ascertain the line of treatment as also helped us identify those who need to be isolated due to medical issues,” said DG (Prisons) Alok Mittal, adding that the SOPs aim to standardise procedures across all prisons in the state.
The SOP outlines a structured screening protocol beginning at the jail hospital, followed by a general medical examination, including recording vital parameters such as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, height and weight. Inmates will also be checked for visible injuries, withdrawal symptoms and signs of infection, with all findings recorded in the Prisoner Medical Record (PMR) through the e-prison health module.
It further mandates laboratory testing for key communicable diseases, including Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV, for all newly admitted prisoners. Confirmed cases will be referred to specialised treatment centres for further care and follow-up.
