When a person serving a prison sentence falls ill in prison, the cost of medical treatment is usually borne by the State. Regardless of whether the illness occurs while serving a sentence or was pre-existing, the cost of surgery and treatment is generally paid by the prison as long as the person is in prison. However, there are two conditions:
1. If the illness is not serious, life-threatening or likely to result in disability, the prison may not bear the high cost of medical treatment;
2. In the case of difficult-to-cure illnesses, the cost of treatment may have to be paid for by the person themselves if they insist on receiving it.
If the condition is particularly serious, it is also possible to apply for medical parole.
Prison medical care system:
1. The establishment of medical institutions within prisons; prisons usually have their own medical institutions, such as infirmaries or hospitals, in order to provide basic medical care and emergency medical treatment.
2. The flow of medical services for inmates; when inmates fall ill, they usually need to go through the prison's internal medical facilities for initial diagnosis and treatment, and may need to be transferred to an external hospital for serious illnesses or special cases.
3. The scope of the State's share of medical costs; the State's share of medical costs usually covers the cost of basic diagnosis and treatment, medicines and necessary treatment, but excludes some special or additional medical services.
4. Measures to safeguard the right to health of inmates; prisons are required to ensure the right to health of inmates, to provide the necessary health-care services, to prevent the spread of disease and to provide appropriate medical care for sick inmates.
5. Mechanisms for dealing with medical disputes; if prisoners have objections to medical services or if medical disputes arise, prisons should have appropriate mechanisms for dealing with such disputes and channels for lodging complaints, in order to safeguard prisoners' legitimate rights and interests.
In summary, when prisoners fall ill in prison, most of their medical expenses are borne by the state, but if the condition is not serious or the treatment is difficult to cure, the expenses may have to be taken care of by themselves, and in particularly serious cases, prisoners have the right to apply for release on medical parole.
Legal basis:
"The Chinese people's **** and the State Regulations on Detention Centers"
Article 26
Detention centers shall be equipped with the necessary medical equipment and commonly used medicines. If a prisoner is ill, he shall be given timely treatment; if he needs to go to a hospital for treatment, the local hospital shall be responsible for the treatment; if his condition is serious, he may be released on bail pending trial in accordance with the law.