afrol News, 4 September - Having overpowered security guards in Jose Pearson hospital in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, several tuberculosis patients took to their heels on Wednesday, the Eastern Cape health officials confirmed.

Spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said many of the patients who overpowered 10 guards had returned to the hospital.

"So far six patients are still on the run. We are trying to contact their relatives to find out their whereabouts to track them down," Kupelo told 'Sapa'.

The patients on the run have been urged to return to the hospital, for they are too sickly to be out in public.

"They have to understand that they are been kept at the hospital because their condition dictates that," said Kupelo.

On Thursday, several other patients at the hospital with about 300 TB patients went on a hunger hunger after their "unreasonable demands" to be allowed to go out shopping were turned down.

The spokesperson said the health department was running a health facility instead of a prison. As such, people are being kept as patients and not as prisoners.

"What is happening is beyond the control of the doctors and nurses as there is a criminal element involved."

TB patients at Fort Grey hospital in East London also embarked on similar protests on Wednesday.

The latest development followed the escape of 19 TB patients from Jose Pearson TB hospital after they overpowered security guards and fled.

The patients were motivated into action after a security guard reportedly allowed a patient to go shopping.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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