The SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha will soon have special wards for destitute patients in at least five departments of the hospital, a senior official said on October 22.

An unidentified destitute patient had died unattended inside the premises of the premier hospital on October 21, the official said. "Instruction has been issued to the heads of Medicine, Surgery, Orthopaedic, Mental and Neurology departments to earmark special wards in their departments with all facilities to treat exclusively the unidentified destitute patients," said Hospital Superintendent Prof P K Devta. About three months ago acting chairman of Odisha Human Rights Commission Justice B K Mishra had visited the SCB Medical College Hospital to assess the situation in the premier hospital and he had instructed the authorities to have special wards for destitute patients.