Section 31: Medical officers

31. Medical officers (1) Such medical officers as may be designated by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for the subject of health shall be responsible for the health of detainees. (2) A medical officer— (a) shall cause every detainee to be examined at such time as may be prescribed; (b) may, with or without the detainee’s consent, take, cause or direct the taking of such action as he thinks fit in the interests of the health of a detainee; and (c) shall keep in such form as may be prescribed— (i) a case book showing the name, disease, ailment or complaint and treatment of every detainee who is sick, ill or injured; (ii) a journal containing his comments on the state of sanitation and hygiene of the institution and detainees; (iii) a case book giving full details of the medical history, treatment and cause of death of every detainee who dies in the institution; and (iv) a record of the nature and quality of the food of the detainee both before and after cooking. (3) The Commissioner shall, following the written report of a medical officer, take such steps as may be necessary for improving the state of hygiene of an institution.