The family of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim may take legal action against both the home and health ministries if his health condition continues to deteriorate.

Lawyer Sankara Nair said Anwar's family will not hesitate to take legal action if the relevant authorities fail to provide proper medical care for him at the Sungai Buloh prison.

Sankara said he had sent letters on behalf of the family to Home Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Health Minister Chua Jui Ming to protest the lack of professionalism by the authorities which led to Anwar's recent health complications.

Anwar, who is already suffering from spinal injury (prolapsed disc), was warded at the hospital last Friday where he was diagnosed with "baseline pneumonia" of the right lung.