Bhubaneswar: A large number of patients have started vacating the government hospitals as doctors went underground fearing arrest with the Orissa Government invoking Essential Services Maintenance Act ahead of their indefinite strike from tomorrow.

The Capital Hospital here wore a deserted look as nearly 400 patients vacated it for private hospitals. Departments like orthopaedic, cardiology and surgery did not have a single patient, barring the medicine and gynaecology departments, as they are unable to move from their beds.

"We have referred as many as 20 seriously ill patients to SCB Medical College Hospital at Cuttack," conceded Capital Hospital chief medical officer (CMO) Umakant Mishra.

As majority of doctors did not turn up for duty today in view of ESMA the patients were discharged, he said.

The situation was the worst for poor 70-year-old Hema Subudhi, admitted to the hospital barely a day ago.

"I have no son or daughter. The neighbourers had brought me to the hospital. Now though the doctors asked me to leave the hospital, I would rather die here," she told PTI.

Padmalochan Ray, coach of chess champion Padmini Rout, admitted to the hospital two days ago with a broken leg, said, "I have no alternative but to go back home."
Source : PTI