Spreading Smiles

Every year 35,000 children in India are born with facial clefts.  Cleft Lip & Palate can be very well corrected by a small surgical procedure of 1hr. with a hospital stay of 3-5 days costing as little as 12,000 – 15,000 per surgery.  From the cleaners to the nurse to the surgeons everyone involved in the process is A VOLUNTEER.  All the surgeries in this project will be done Free Of Charge  Join us in project SPREADING SMILES.  All the donations to this project are exempted from Sec. 80 / C, Income Tax  All the payments should be in the name of Saiseva Charitable Trust, Payable At Pune.  For further information contact –            info@saishreehospital.org            Phone - 020 41088600, 96899 30608 / 1.

Project Joint Express

What is the Joint Express Campaign scheme all about?

Joint Express is a registered programme of Sai Seva Charitable Trust. Under this programme, Joint Replacement Surgeries are done at a concessional rate for needy patients. 50 % concession is given on hospital expenses and 20 % concession on the Imported Joint Implant. Although persons from all the age groups are eligible for this programme, preference is given to Young people, who are the sole earning member of the family. So, when such a person is benfitted, complete family gets the benefit. We have treated many such patients, where this has resulted in complete change in fortunes for the affected family. Although main focus of this programme is to help people requiring joint replacement,help is also offered for all other orthopedic procedures as well.

When was it started and where?

This programme was started in August 2009. All the surgeries under this programme are done at SaiShree Hospital and Joint Replacement Center, Aundh, Pune.

What is the objective behind launching this scheme?

Sole purpose of this programme is to help needy patients. Also, we wanted to highlight the fact that, joint replacement not only changes persons affected joint but also transforms his / her life. Life is movement and movement is life, Joint Express is to help people to stand on their feet again.

How many patients have benefitted from the scheme?

More than 100 persons are benefitted from this programme till today.

What is the total cost of the various treatments under the scheme compare to the normal cost in the market? What is the cost benefit for patient from this scheme under various procedures?

Under Joint Express a Total Knee Replacement in General ward is done in Rs. 90,000 ( This includes total hospital expenses, implant cost but not medicine expenses, which are charged at actual ). We make sure that there is no compromise on quality of the procedure. We have 0 % infection rate at SaiShree and all the persons operated under this programme are back on their feet and leading a normal life. We also have facility of Navigation Surgery ( Computer Guided Joint Replacement Surgery ) Similar procedure in any other hospital in Pune would cost Rs. 1,25,000 and Rs. 1,60,000 in any of Mumbai Hospital.

Any approximate data of people suffering from knee problems in Mumbai/Maharashtra?

In India, more than 60 % of people above the age of 50 suffer from knee pain due to arthritis. This is on rise and is mainly because of sedentary life style, lack of exercise, obesity and osteoporosis.

What is the incentive for Mumbai patients to come to Pune and enroll in this scheme besides cost benefit?

As explained its quality treatment at affordable rates. Pune is just two hours driving distance from Mumbai and similar health care facilities are available. At the same time cost is nearly 40 % - 50 % less. Again it is personalized attention, which is offered, which would not be possible at bigger corporate hospitals.

What is the role of trust (SSC)?

20 % concession on Imported Joint Implant and 50 % concession on hospital expenses is possible only because of SaiSeva Charitable Trust. All the donations to this programme get benefit under section 80 G of Income Tax.

Please provide case study of a patient who has recently benefitted from the scheme.

A 28 year old gentleman, from Rasta Peth, Pune, suffering from, Bilateral Avascular Naecrosis of Femoral Head ( a condition which leads to complete distruction of femur head cartilage and results in Hip Joint Arthritis ), unable to walk without support and carry out his day today activities. He is a sole earning member of the family with a wife, two kids and mother to be looked after. He is into a marketing job where lot of travelling is required. He was about to lose his job because of his arthritic hip joints. This person underwent bilateral hip joint replacement at SaiShree and is back to his job and taking care of his family. Another patient a 78 year old lady from Kothrud, was wheelchair bound because of severely arthritic knees, wanted to an independent life till her end. Her financial condition was not sound and knees were badly damaged. Implanting an Indian Implant in such a person would have resulted in disaster. She was not in position to afford an Imported Implant. She was operated under this programme and is back on her feet and travelling all across Maharashtra, on her own and enjoying her newly found freedom !!!!!!!!!!!!! A national level wrestler suffered ACL ( Anterior Cruciate Ligament ) injury in his knee joint. He was not in position to afford arthroscopic knee ligament reconstruction. He was operated under this programme and is back to his pre injury status.

Camps held

Sai Seva Charitable Trust

The trust was established in 1995. It has been actively involved in health check up camps and social welfare schemes, in and around Pune. Some of them include: General Free Health Check up Camp at Kapurhol, Tal. Bhor, Dist. Pune in 2005 General Free Health Checkup Camp at Kothrud, Pune in 2006 Camp on Maternal and Child Health at Pirangut, Pune in 2008 Giving paramount importance to patient & patient care needs            Arthritis Checkup Camp at Aundh, Pune in June 2009 Blood Donation Camp jointly organized by Rotary Club of Pune Kothrud, and Sai Seva            Arthritis Week at Sai Shree Hospital, Aundh, Pune in Oct 2011 All donations to the trust are exempted under Section 80-G of Income Tax Act, Government of India.

Upcoming Camps