KARACHI, Jan 23: About 200 prisoners have been suffering from different diseases in central prison and 20 of them are said to be in serious condition, but due to lack of proper medical care their condition is getting worse with each passing day.

Reliable sources told Dawn that about 200 prisoners with deep wounds on their bodies had been in dire need of medical treatment and most of them had already been advised surgery by doctors, but they could not get the treatment so far.

Besides, scores of prisoners are suffering from skin diseases, which could spread to the rest of inmates in the prison.

When contacted, Deputy Superintendent (Prison) Raja Mumtaz said it was the responsibility of the court police to shift the prisoners. Due to lack of staff, he said, the existing personnel could not reach everywhere to solve the problems.

He said there were only three doctors in the prison and they have to examine at least 450 patients a day.

There was neither a permanent medicines store nor any clinic in the jail premises, he said. However, he said that the Inspector General Prisons was making efforts to provide better medical care to the inmates at all costs.