Prisoners from districts such as Jhapa, Ilam, Taplejung, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, and Tehrathum in Koshi Province are ultimately brought to Morang for treatment when they fall ill for one reason or another.
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In recent years, Morang District Jail has become a major 'referral center' for transferring sick prisoners from across the province.
Prisoners from Jhapa, Ilam, Taplejung, Bhojpur, Dhankuta, and Tehrathum districts of Koshi Province are eventually brought to Morang for treatment after falling ill for some reason.
Jailer Gaurav Dhungel says, ‘Morang is a hub of hospitals.’ That is why it is customary to send prisoners who are ill in other districts here, saying that it will be easier to get treatment.’
According to the prison administration, there are more than 1,200 prisoners in Morang Prison. Out of them, more than a dozen are sick prisoners. Half a dozen of them are tuberculosis patients, who are receiving regular treatment at the tuberculosis center under Koshi Hospital.
Similarly, some have heart disease, some have swelling problems. All of them are receiving regular treatment at Koshi Hospital. One cancer patient is undergoing treatment at a private hospital. ‘It is difficult to get a bed in a government hospital,’ says jailer Dhungel, ‘even to admit patients, one has to wait in line.’ Dhungel said that Koshi Hospital has an arrears of about 6 million rupees for the treatment of prisoners. ‘Our job is to admit sick prisoners to the hospital,’ he says.
Family distance, state silence
Most of the families of prisoners who are in prison for various crimes due to drug and alcohol addiction do not even come to visit them. The prison administration takes care of all these responsibilities, including visiting the hospital during treatment, paying for medicines, and staying close by. ‘The families of such prisoners do not even come to the prison to meet them,’ says a prison official, ‘but after a death, they march to demand compensation.’
The family of Radha Bhattarai, 32, of Barahakshetra Municipality-6, Sunsari, who committed suicide in prison on Bhadra 11, had protested demanding compensation. However, they had returned as there was no legal provision to provide compensation to those who lost their lives in prison.
The health of prisoners in prisons has been an issue that has been raised for years. There are not enough doctors in prisons, there is a health room but no necessary equipment.
That is why neighboring districts decide to 'send' patients to Morang when they fall ill. Because Morang has easy access to hospitals. That is why Morang prison has become a kind of 'referral center' for sick prisoners.
The government hospital in Koshi is the 'patient': Sometimes a 'referral center', sometimes helicopter rescue is required
