At least 202 inmates died whilst in prison last year, according to the Interior Ministry’s 2022 annual report. Lieutenant General Nuth Savna, a spokesman for the General Department of Prisons, said yesterday that the inmates died due to chronic illnesses or addiction to drugs. “Most were young inmates and they were already addicted to drugs prior to their imprisonment, which caused a serious impact to their health,” he said.

 

The prisons have medical teams on site who can treat the inmates, but those who become seriously ill are transferred to hospitals, he added. “However, we have to ask permission from the prosecutor before sending them to hospitals and we have provided treatment for several inmates without any discrimination,” he said.

 

The government’s policy is to care for inmates whilst in prison and to provide them with vocational skills and education, so they are better prepared for when they leave the prisons, he added. Ministry of Interior spokesman, General Khieu Sopheak said that the ministry has been working effortlessly to keep prisons hygienic, healthy and conducive for inmates’ mental health.
 

 

read more https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501264023/over-200-prisoners-died-due-to-chronic-illnesses-last-year/

 

2 hours ago, geovalin said:

The government’s policy is to care for inmates whilst in prison

Based on the number of avoidable deaths?  Perhaps they are not.  Especially if they are allowing addicts die from withdrawal.  They can be medically treated to taper them off of whatever they are addicted to.  But...