QUETTA: The Balochistan government has launched its first Jail Health Programme to provide standardised medical care for prisoners across the province.
Provincial Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar unveiled the plan during a screening camp at Central Jail Quetta on Monday, calling it a “milestone in protecting the rights of inmates.” Inmates deserve equal access to healthcare, added he.
The programme, introduced on the directive of Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, will offer screenings, treatment and medication for more than 30 infectious and chronic conditions, including hepatitis, tuberculosis, hypertension and mental health disorders. It also includes vaccination drives and awareness campaigns.
Kakar said prisoner health had been ignored for decades but vowed the new initiative would change that. “Our goal is not just treatment, but transformation,” he said. “A healthy prisoner guarantees a healthy society.”
The government plans to expand the scheme to all jails in Balochistan as part of broader health sector reforms.
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During his visit, Kakar also inspected vocational and education programmes for inmates. Prison officials briefed him on rehabilitation and training projects underway inside the facility.
