Three prisoners transferred to solitary confinement after testing positive for illicit substances have been on a hunger strike since Wednesday.

The government said the inmates’ health was in a good state and medical staff were keeping an eye on them.

As usually happened in such circumstances, the inmates were temporarily stopped from continuing with their work in prison, the government said.

PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami said the incident showed the government had failed to keep its promise to eradicate drugs from prison.