Abstract/Summary

Improving prison health services is critical for fighting epidemics such as covid-19. Prisoners are at much higher risk of infectious diseases than communities outside. Eruption of covid-19 in prisons emphasises the need to improve prison healthcare. Health education for inmates and prison staff must be intensified, and better treatment and prevention measures require increased funding. More non-custodial sentences would decongest prisons, reducing the potential for the outbreaks. Links between prison and national health services should be strengthened.