I. Disease prevention

1. Inmates receive a thorough medical checkup shortly after their arrival and a physician’s assessment will follow right after if being suspected to have sever, psychological or infectious diseases to address the health issues.  Additionally, implementing the policy of Taiwan Centers for Disease Control, the prison takes measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
2. The contracted imaging center performs on-site chest X-ray for newly admitted inmates and those with results indicating potential abnormalities will be arranged periodic follow-up appointments to prevent the spread of pulmonary tuberculosis. On top of that, all inmates are given annual chest X-ray screenings to eliminate group infections.
3. The medical laboratory which wins the open tender invited by the prison performs blood test for newly admitted inmates for infectious disease (HIV, syphilis) every week.  In addition, health promotion is offered to improve inmates’ health literacy.
4. To effectively deter drug smuggling or reuse, inmates who are newly admitted and required to attend court or go to prosecutors’ office are demanded to take urine tests.  Furthermore, surprise urine tests are performed irregularly every season on the drug offenders.
5. Regular and thorough cleaning procedures are implemented to eliminate various kinds of diseases along with strict food hygiene practices to promote inmates’ health and well-being.

II. Disease treatment

1. In accordance with the authorization by Executive Yuan, Taichung Prison established the Central Taiwan Medical Care Center, Ministry of Justice, including outpatient department, inpatient department, hemodialysis center, psychiatric care unit, tuberculosis isolation area and intensive care unit, and the former three are operated by Pei-De Hospital which is affiliated to the center.
2. Outpatient Department: Provides internal medicine and surgery services for inmates from Taichung Prison and the correctional facilities nearby.
3. Inpatient Department: Equipped with 63 acute beds and two recovery beds to support the inmates with acute or severe illness requiring intensive medical care.
4. Hemodialysis Center: Equipped with 24 dialysis beds for inmates with uremia to undergo hemodialysis to maintain their health.
5. Psychiatric Care Unit: Based on their conditions, provides proper care and treatment for inmates with mental illness to improve their mental condition.
6. Tuberculosis Isolation Area: Followed the Directly Observed Treatment, Short-Course (DOTS) strategy, negative pressure rooms were created to cure inmates with TB of the lungs by having health care workers directly observe the inmates taking their full course of medications to ensure compliance and prevent drug resistance, and in the meantime, systematically maintain records of cases and treatment outcomes to track progress.
7. Critical Care Unit: Provides specialized ongoing and advanced medical and nursing care for inmates who have severe or chronic illness but don’t need to be hospitalized.