Health officials' support jailed doctor

The Global Health Council and other several prominent global health organisations have issued a statement of support for Dr Binayak Sen.

Dr Sen, who is currently in an Indian jail, has been awarded the 2008 Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and his supporters are requesting the authorities find the means to allow the doctor to receive his award in person.

He has been imprisoned in Raipur for almost a year without trial following allegations he violated state terrorism laws.

The statement of support says: "Dr Sen has denied all wrong doing and nothing in his character or history, as a dedicated community leader who has urged a peaceful settlement to this conflict for years, would support the accusations made against him."

He was awarded for his years of service to poor and tribal communities in India, establishing health-care centres and forming an organisation of health workers through 20 villages in war-torn areas of Chhattisgarth.

According to the statement Dr Sen was imprisoned after being accused of passing notes from a rebel leader he treated in prison to a person outside.

The awards ceremony will take place on May 29th in Washington at the 35th Annual International Conference on Global Health.