Healthcare in prison
The elite prisoner enjoys the advantages of using private healthcare facilities. The public healthcare system administered, and created by the lawmakers, is ironically inadequate for their own selves!
Access to foreign healthcare is demanded as a necessity for the politically connected, rather than a privilege. In 2007, "four Shanghai prison officials were sentenced up to 11 years in jail on bribery charges after giving preferential treatment to a jailed real estate tycoon"(Chinese State media). However, in South Africa, white juveniles still receive better treatment by the criminal justice system and in prison, than their coloured counterparts. Apartheid arguments are redundant in Bangladesh, though.
Mental health is important. All prisoners, especially those convicted for abuse of power, need special attention to bring about behavioural changes. There is no better way of restoring justice, than allowing the perpetrators of abuse to have dialogues with the victims. The benefactors of power are now presented with the unique opportunity of interacting with the sufferers of the systemic failures. After all, the nations' incarcerated are a true reflection of the inconsistencies within the state.
Healthcare should be a constitutional right for all prisoners. But the distribution of resources should also be equitable. If five prisoners have access to healthcare in Singapore, and another twenty-five rot in their cell due to lack of access (to any form of healthcare), the math becomes contorted. The counterpoint that the five prisoners are paying for their own travel and expenses reinforces the ancient notion, 'the privileged will always retain privileges'.
Political career is that of sacrifice and compassion. Political rhetoric is evidence of such declarations. People engaged in public service have dedicated their lives to realising the rights of the deprived, and creating true platforms for social justice. In doing so, they surely need to identify with the miseries of their constituency. It seems like prison is a good place for initiating reforms. After all, as many of the current inmates are beneficiaries of privilege, the prison seems to be the most appropriate spiritual retreat.
The public servants take pride in sharing the burden of the unjust system and thus, work sincerely towards a more equal society. There is a need to applaud the efforts of those in prison that reject preferential treatment (if there is any), and believe that the shortcomings in the public healthcare system need to be embraced by the top hierarchy.
While they are still in prison, it would be useful if they would look at other prison conditions like juvenile detention, violence against female prisoners, education facilities etc. Better fodder for the next administration.
There is no denying the institutionalised abuse of the incarcerated and, strangely, the 'not incarcerated' poor. It would be fairly effective to allow policy makers an opportunity to be on the receiving end of these systemic deficiencies, and better equip them in executing their jobs. Suppose they all are required to send their children to local public schools and universities!! The possibilities are delightfully endless.
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