Sri Sathya Sai Baba

The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh can claim to have achieved the impossible - namely, the provision of hi-tech medical services completely free of charge. Adherence to the five human values (truth, righteousness, peace, love and non-violence) and complete dedication to serve people without self-interest are the key elements for this success. This example may serve as a model for creating similar hospitals for the service of mankind.

The medical world is in a crisis owing to difficulties in keeping the costs down. In addition, controversies that challenge the ethics of modern medicine are bewildering both scientists and ordinary people in many countries.

Euthanasia, organ transplants, surrogate motherhood, abortions etc. are some problems being discussed with no solutions in sight. The crisis is a reflection of a world in turmoil, with hardly any individual or country at peace. Values and relationships have changed greatly and there is conflict in human expectations because of uncontrolled temptation and greed for wealth and power. Any effort to build a more just and peaceful world must therefore, be directed towards reforming and transforming the human character.

Spiritual concepts and religions, as practised today, are often divisive or too weak to hold together populations and protect the global society. More than ever before, there is now an urgent need for enlightened leadership and new directives. To prepare new leaders, the Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning was established some years ago by Sri Sathya Sai, a renowned spiritual guide and teacher, for university and post graduate education in the Arts, Sciences and Commerce. There are three campuses located in Prasanthinilayam, Anantpur and in Brindavan (Whitefield, near Bangalore). The most important feature of this education is the practice and propagation of five human values - Truth, Righteousness, Peace, Love and Non-violence.

The need to apply these values in health care led to a unique experiment to make modern high technology medicine available, free of charge to all who need it.

Concept and Development: The story of how human effort was able to execute the "Divine will" is a remarkable one. The impressive building, which rose miraculously within a six-month period, was designed by the British architect, Professor Keith Critchlow, and stands as a magnificent temple of healing. Its inspiring architecture imparts an "Aura to Divinity and Peace" to all who enter the hospital.

This hospital is a monument to faith in the five human values mentioned above, and demonstrates compassionate loving care and selfless service in an age where high cost specialised medicine is beyond the reach of the great majority of the world’s population. A well-coordinated international effort has made it possible for every department of the hospital to have the most modem equipment and staff consisting of highly qualified and dedicated surgeons, physicians, nurses, other health care practitioners and technicians.

The Institute was granted accreditation by the National Board of Examinations of India for the training of specialists in cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, urology and nephrology. The Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences is thus developing into a centre for postgraduate studies and research.

Organisation and achievements: Patients are usually referred to the Institute by primary-level health promotion centres located in nearly 4000 centres of the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisations all over India. However, before this, they are first examined and filtered through a secondary-level health center located in the Sri Sathya Sai General Hospital, which is about 8 km away from the institute. All patients are treated and referred back to their homes and the local Sathya Sai health promotion centre, which provides for basic needs and follow-up.

Three international cardiology symposia, which were organised by the Institute in February - 1993, January - 1993 and December - 1995, were attended by leading cardiologists and heart surgeons from India and many other countries. Sri Sathya Sai’s address to the participants underlined the basic spiritual principles that should guide medical practice in the Super Speciality Hospital and all hospitals everywhere. Leading personalities like the President of India and Ministers of Health also attended the proceedings.

"Not only is this hospital completely free of charge to every patient but the entire hospital is infused with an atmosphere of spiritual peace which invokes every worker of the hospital to serve patients with a sense of dedication and love, having a sincere desire to help the patient in every way. The patients are full of hope and the doctors are ready to help.

All the criteria of measuring the working efficiency of the hospitals are up to international standards.

Computing the cost of diagnosis, treatment, hospitalisation and operative procedure at the lowest minimum of Rupees Two lakh (2.00 lac) per patient, Sri Sathya Sai has donated services worth more than Rs. 200 crores to humanity, so far, through just one department of the hospital! Treatment worth that much is given free with abundance of love and care. There is no ambiguity in our minds that the hospital can treat all the poor of the world."

The Institute’s message for shaping be summarised as follows:

Globalisation of medicine: Advice and treatment should be freely available from any medical institution globally as the birthright of every human being who falls ill.

De-commercialisation of medicine: The healing arts and treatment of patients should not be marketable commodities for making profit.

Humanisation of medicine: The human agents of health care delivery (health administrators, doctors, nurses, and technicians) should adhere to the five human values in their thoughts, words and deeds because it is not the building or equipment that makes a good or bad hospital, but the people who work there.

Spiritualisation of medicine: Modern medicine attempts to take care of the physical, mental and psychological health of individuals and populations, but to become holistic it must recognize the Spirit as the "driving force" behind every human being.

The practice of human values will lead to consistency in our thoughts, words and deeds and the transformation of man and society. Only then will dedicated and selfless service to humanity be possible in all fields including health care.

Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Prasanthinilayam Statistical Report

Department of Cardiology/C.T.V.S.

(November 1991 - June 2000)

OPD Screening 2,97,778

Holter Studies 1,097

Echo Cardiography 2,26,257

Treadmill Test 10,767

Admissions 17,860

Days of Care/Patient 11

Total Heart Surgeries 9,479

Valves Replaced 8,13

CABG 1,049

Other Surgeries 7,617

Cardiac Catheterization

Procedures 9,063

Diagnostic Studies 7,249

Interventional Studies 1,814

Pacemaker Implantations 196

Blood Donations 36,968

Department of Urology/Nephrology

(November 1992 - June 2000)

OPD Screening 1,20,932

Urology 95,404

Nephrology 25,528

Admissions 12,652

Days of Care/Patient 12

Kidney Transplants 74

Other Surgeries 12,514

Haemo-Dialysis 5,504

Department of Ophthalmology

(November 1994 - June 2000)

OPD Screening 1,30,746

Admissions 12,576

Days of Care/Patient 4

Surgeries 12,668

Fundus Florescein Angiography 1,050

Laser Treatment 2,437