ISLAMABAD: The administration of Federal Prison Islamabad has sought medical staff from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to operate and manage a 35-bed hospital for inmates.

Officials familiar with the matter told Dawn that, in response to the request, a team of 33 medical professionals working at CDA Hospital had been selected for deployment at the prison hospital. A director stationed at CDA Hospital had also been shortlisted to supervise the facility, they added. The director is currently visiting various facilities in Italy to examine their systems.

A meeting between representatives of the prison administration and the CDA was held at the prison on October 22 to discuss measures to strengthen healthcare services for inmates.

During the meeting, the prison administration requested the CDA to strengthen medical services for inmates and ensure the availability of adequately trained medical and technical staff.

It was decided that the senior-most doctor would be designated as chief medical officer (CMO), with all technicians and paramedical staff reporting to him. The CMO/medical superintendent would report directly to the SSP Prisons Islamabad. The meeting also stressed the need for a clear chain of command within the medical wing to ensure accountability and efficient delivery of healthcare services.

It was decided that a complete list of doctors, including their names and contact numbers, would be provided to the SSP Prisons. Each doctor would be issued a nameplate to wear while on duty, and the list would be updated whenever there was a change in staff.

The participants also agreed that continuous professional training was necessary to keep doctors abreast of current medical practices and the specific healthcare requirements of a prison environment. Regular training sessions and refresher courses would be arranged, while the CMO would prepare a training plan and submit it to the SSP Prisons for approval.

The meeting further decided that standard operating procedures (SOPs) would be framed to ensure uniformity in the functioning of medical staff. These would cover duty hours and rosters, emergency response, medical examinations of inmates, referrals to outside hospitals and record-keeping.

The draft SOPs would be prepared by the CMO in consultation with Dr Israr and submitted to the SSP Prisons. Once approved, they would be circulated among all medical staff for compliance.

The participants also agreed that the hospital pharmacy must remain operational round the clock to ensure the timely availability of medicines, particularly during emergencies.

The CMO would prepare a duty roster to ensure that qualified pharmacy staff were available on every shift. Adequate stocks of essential and emergency medicines would be maintained at all times, and any shortage would be reported to the SSP Prisons without delay.

The meeting also decided to establish a telemedicine facility at the prison so inmates could consult specialist doctors without the delays, costs and security risks associated with transporting them outside the facility.

A dedicated room equipped with the necessary equipment and a reliable internet connection would be arranged to facilitate remote consultations with specialists at CDA Hospital and other hospitals. The CMO would nominate a focal person to coordinate consultations and maintain records.

According to the officials, the proposed deployment comprises four medical officers, one psychologist, one laboratory technician, one X-ray technician, one dental technician, two operation theatre technicians, three pharmacists, four ward boys, eight male nurses and eight cleaners.

The prison administration said the decisions taken during the meeting could not be implemented without the required trained staff. It has therefore requested the CDA to issue necessary directions for the early posting of the 33 personnel at Federal Prison Islamabad and inform the office of the SSP Prisons accordingly.

Dr Israr Ahmed was assigned responsibility for providing the list of doctors, arranging their nameplates, preparing the training plan, drafting SOPs for medical staff, ensuring round-the-clock pharmacy operations and maintaining stocks of essential medicines.

He was also tasked with establishing the telemedicine facility, nominating a focal person and submitting requirements for equipment and connectivity.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2026