KATHMANDU: The central jail, largest prison in the country, has brought a 30-bed-hospital into operation. The 104-year-old jail based in Jagannathdewal, Kathmandu first started medical checkup facilities for inmates and detainees from a single room 55 years ago. And on August 13, 2011, the prison expanded the infirmary into a 15-bed medical facility.

According to Section Officer Sunita Ghimire, the health facility has now been upgraded to increase the areas of medical facilities for the target group. Sixty-seven quotas have been endorsed under the leadership of a 10th-level officer and seven medical specialists are available there to treat patients.

At present, the jail houses 2,800 inmates and detainees against its accommodation capacity of 1,500. It has 55 doctors and avails a separate cell for women. Separate wards have been established to render medical facilities to female and male patients. OPD, lab, X-ray, ECG and ultrasound services and treatment of dental problem, psychiatric disorders, skin and eye diseases are available in the prison hospital.

The hospital refers those patients whose treatment is not possible here to other government hospitals such as the Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Mental Hospital and Shahid Gangalal National Heart Centre etc being based on the nature of diseases.

On average, the hospital checks some 80-100 patients on a daily basis. Besides, it also provides healthcare facilities to inmates and detainees of Dillibazar and Nakhkhu based prisons.