GD08 Dermatological health gaps in a medically underserved prison community: insights from the Mission Prison outreach initiative in India

Abstract

Prison populations worldwide are medically underserved, with high dermatological morbidity driven by overcrowding, limited hygiene resources and restricted specialist access. Barriers such as constrained mobility, inadequate on-site services, stigma and privacy concerns further discourage inmates from seeking timely care, leading to delayed diagnosis and a high untreated disease burden. The nationwide Mission Prison campaign led by the Indian Association of Dermatologists aims to bridge these gaps through structured outreach and education conducted across all states, providing a scalable model relevant to prison healthcare systems worldwide. We evaluated dermatological disease burden, care gaps and the feasibility of delivering structured dermatology services in a prison setting. A 1-day dermatology camp was conducted at the Central Prison, Puducherry, India, where a team of 14 dermatologists evaluated 320 inmates (60 female, 260 male). The services provided included full-body skin examination, on-site treatment, counselling, sexually transmitted disease screening and teledermatology follow-up for chronic conditions. Demographic details and the spectrum of dermatological diagnoses were systematically recorded. A high prevalence of infections was observed, including scabies, fungal infections and pyoderma, followed by chronic inflammatory conditions, foot dermatoses and untreated pigmentary disorders. Genital diseases, including genital warts, suspected syphilis, vaginal candidiasis, candidal balanitis and herpes, were identified and treated. Many inmates presented with long-standing lesions. On-site treatment provided immediate relief, educational sessions improved hygiene and early care-seeking awareness, and teledermatology enhanced continuity of care. This experience highlights significant dermatological care gaps in prison settings and underscores the importance of integrating structured dermatology camps into government prison healthcare programmes. Engagement of national professional societies, academic institutions and pharmaceutical partners can provide technical, educational and logistical support, creating a scalable and sustainable model to deliver equitable skin health services to medically underserved prison communities in India and beyond.