The Sri Sathya Sai system of healthcare is a unique healthcare system that provides free healthcare to every patient without any solicitation or marketing. It has been successfully doing this since 1956. Its service extends all over the globe providing healthcare in every continent except Antarctica. For these reasons, it is referred to as Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare. How is this achieved? The next section describes the principles that drive the healthcare system.
Principles of Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare
Sri Sathya Sai Baba had been working incessantly for more than half a century to bring about the joyous experience of compassion and love to mankind all over the world through a benevolent healthcare system. The global proportion to which this has grown is truly a blessing for the entire world. In 1956, His mother Easwaramma requested Him to construct a hospital for the poor. While there are many hospitals, Sri Sathya Sai Baba believed that free healthcare, like free education and drinking water, is an inalienable right of every individual, irrespective of race, religion, creed or economic status. With these noble ideals, the first Sri Sathya Sai Hospital was established in Puttaparthi, India in 1956.
During the last 60 years this has blossomed into a vast global system delivering free healthcare in many countries using the principles taught by Sri Sathya Sai Baba. These principles provide a framework for the delivery of ideal healthcare. In the field of medicine, He has fundamentally redefined healthcare and has made the clarion call for all medical professionals to deliver ideal healthcare. Healthcare implemented by Sri Sathya Sai Baba is guided by the following six principles which are assiduously followed in every healthcare institution and every healthcare activity. The principles below have been emphasized by Sri Sathya Sai Baba in His discourses:
- State-of-the-art healthcare: State-of-the-art healthcare is made available to all people. The importance of this principle is stated in this Discourse.
- Free healthcare: Economic considerations do not prevent anyone from receiving the highest benefits of healthcare. The importance of this principle is stated in this Discourse.
- Compassionate healthcare: Healthcare is delivered with love and compassion. The importance of this principle is stated in this Discourse.
- Comprehensive healthcare: Healthcare includes treatment of the body, mind, and spirit. The importance of this principle is stated in this Discourse.
- Preventive healthcare: Prevention should be the primary focus. The importance of this principle is stated in this Discourse.
- Timely delivery of healthcare: Healthcare is delivered as soon as a need is identified without delay. The importance of this principle is stated in this Discourse.
Healthcare Mission
The SSSIO has established a vast network of excellent, compassionate and free healthcare delivery in over 30 countries around the globe. This service is rendered with humility, without publicity and without solicitation of funds.
Delivery of Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare takes place through the following activities. Every activity adheres to the six principles stated above:
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Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Awareness and Veterinary Camps.
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Mobile and Permanent Medical Clinics.
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Specialized Procedures and Surgeries (including eye, dental, cardiac, and gynaecological surgeries, and endoscopy procedures).
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Blood Products (Blood, Plasma and Platelets) and Bone Marrow donation Drives.
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Medical Relief following natural disasters.
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Telemedicine patient care, education and teaching programs for physicians and other healthcare professionals globally.
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Health Education and Wellness Seminars for all members.
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Sri Sathya Sai Education in Human Values (SSEHV) for HealthCare providers.
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Delivery of medical supplies and equipment to hospitals as well as in areas devastated by natural disasters.
The SSSIO has, in the recent past, engaged in humanitarian relief services in Nepal, Philippines, Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia/Herzegovina, Indonesia, Italy, Sri Lanka, Mexico, Peru, U.S.A. and Haiti – to name a few. For its timely and exemplary services, the SSSIO has been honored with awards and recognition by authorities in many countries, although recognition is never the prime objective of the organization or the volunteers.
Please see this opening talk by Dr. Narendranath Reddy at the International Medical Conference on Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare in Anaheim, California, 2009. You can view a commemorative brochure for the Medical Conference held in 2005.
Details on these activities summarized in the most recent Annual Report of the SSSIO.
Today, Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare is active worldwide seeking no publicity and without fundraising efforts. The timing is now perfect for a rebirth of humane medicine. Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s message to provide excellent and free healthcare services with selfless love, compassion and empathy to everyone is being adopted by thousands of healthcare professionals throughout the world. This model of Sri Sathya Sai Ideal Healthcare has laid the foundation for ideal healthcare worldwide. The healthcare professionals and volunteers of the SSSIO work tirelessly inspired by the vision, words and works of Sri Sathya Sai Baba. They realize that “service to man is service to God.”