Bahrain Mirror: Amnesty International urged Bahrain's authorities to take immediate steps to ensure all those in state custody can access adequate health care and condemned in a statement issued on Friday "medical negligence" and "intentional ill-treatment" in Bahrain's prisons.

Inmates with serious conditions like cancer and multiple sclerosis are regularly denied specialist care and pain medication, Amnesty said.

Family members of 11 Bahraini prisoners, including high-profile activists, described treatment ranging from "petty harassment to needless cruelty", according to a new report by Amnesty.

"The reports we heard from prisoners' relatives paint a stark picture of medical negligence and intentional ill-treatment in Bahrain's prisons. Although medical treatment is provided, it is far from adequate, and prisoners are frequently subjected to disruptions, delays and needless, petty cruelty," said Devin Kenney, Amnesty International's GCC researcher.

"In one appalling case, a man with stage-three cancer was sent back to prison just days after a biopsy - the same individual recently had to wait for more than a month for his medication. Another man has lost at least seven teeth since being detained, due to denial of dental treatment," said Devin Kenney.

Amnesty urged Bahrain's authorities to take immediate steps to ensure all those in state custody can access adequate health care, as they are obliged to do under international law.

Hundreds of Bahrainis have been convicted over protesting or taking part in riots during the 2011 protests witnessed in this tiny Gulf kingdom.

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