KUALA LUMPUR: No prisoner, including Internal Security Act (ISA) detainee P. Uthayakumar, has been deprived of medical treatment while under detention.

The Prisons Department said it provided all prisoners and detainees access to a 24-hour medical service by a medical assistant and the prisons' panel doctor.

It had also upgraded its healthcare facilities to ensure that the prisoners and detainees were given the best care and treatment.

The department also said all prisoners and detainees had to undergo a medical examination before they start their term.

It also added that inmates were not allowed to bring in medicines, but whatever medication they required were supplied or given by the doctors who treat them.
"Those who need to go to a hospital are sent there immediately, irrespective of the time," it said in a statement to clarify several reports claiming that Uthayakumar had been barred from medical examination, treatment and medicine for his illness at the Kamunting detention centre in Taiping.

Uthayakumar is one of five detained under ISA since Dec 13 for his link to the Hindraf rally on Nov 25 last year. The four others are M. Manoharan, V. Ganabatirau, K. Vasantha Kumar and R. Kengadharan.

The department said that on April 14, Uthayakumar was given treatment and provided with the necessary medications at least 10 times from a hospital and a government clinic outside the detention centre.

Uthayakumar had earlier declined medication supplied by the Taiping Hospital as he wanted to take the medicines given by his family. This was not allowed according to Prison procedures.

However, Uthayakumar started taking the medication supplied to him by the hospital after a medical officer came to the detention centre and gave him an explanation on the medicine given him.

"This has never been done to any inmate," the department said.

Early this month, the department said a directive was issued by the Home Minister to allow Uthayakumar to go to Penang Hospital and the National Heart Institute to be examined by specialists.

"Initially, Uthayakumar did not want to go to Penang Hospital but chose IJN instead," it said.

"After the department secured approval for him to go to IJN, he decided against it after his application to meet his family and lawyer during the time outside the ISA regulation was not considered."