Bengaluru: The Sri Madhusudan Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (SMSIMSR) hospital at Muddenahalli in Chikkaballapur district near Bengaluru plans to introduce free immunotherapy for cancer patients as it expands access to advanced medical treatment.
The 320-bed hospital, which provides treatment free of cost, operates under the One World One Family Mission led by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai. A new 600-bed hospital at the same campus is ready for launch in the coming weeks.
SMSIMSR was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in March 2023. The institute is part of the Mission’s efforts to provide free healthcare and medical education.
Sai said the rural-urban divide in healthcare could narrow significantly over the next five to six years, he said while speaking at ‘An Evening with Legends: Compassion in Action’ on Saturday. His vision was to ensure that no child was deprived of education, went to school hungry or lacked access to healthcare, he added.
“Modern genomics treatment has already been initiated at our hospital in Muddenahalli, and we are holding discussions with corporates to expand this. Work is also underway to find effective treatments for several rare diseases, with organisations like the ICMR providing us with grants,” Sai said.
The mission has spent more than Rs 2,400 crore on its service initiatives, Sai said. These began with a school in Kalaburagi, a hospital in Raipur and a breakfast programme for 15 children in Kengeri.
“We are committed to serving society, even if it means begging or borrowing. We have taken on massive loans to build the new hospital, but this debt was incurred for the sake of helpless people who cannot afford treatment elsewhere,” he said.
On funding the expansion, Sai said the mission expected greater participation from corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes, donors and international organisations.
“The current generation is generous when it comes to giving, and they will come to our aid. We also expect well-funded foreign organisations looking for credible institutions to partner with us,” he said.
Cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, who moderated the programme, said the mission’s free paediatric healthcare initiatives offered satisfaction beyond sporting achievements.
Gavaskar described his association with the initiative as his “third innings”. He said congenital heart defect surgeries were being performed free of cost, with a reported 99% success rate.
He also highlighted the mission’s nutrition and education initiatives, including free nutrition support for more than 1 crore children, as well as the upcoming 600-bed hospital and free medical college at Muddenahalli.
Aarin Capital chairman TV Mohandas Pai urged affluent individuals to allocate 10-20% of their income to supporting a poor family or a child’s education.
