LOKMAT NEWS NETWORK
SHIRDI
National Guru and Ayurvedacharya Dr Ramdas Avhad has created an inspiring benchmark in patient care by providing completely free medical consultation and treatment to 150–200 patients every Thursday for the past 25 years at Shri Sai Baba Hospital.
In 2001, there was no Ayurvedic treatment facility available here. A patient went into a coma, and the hospital doctors had lost hope. The patient’s relatives approached Dr Avhad for Ayurvedic treatment. However, there was no dedicated department for Ayurveda.
Dr Avhad then sought permission from the then Sansthan chairman, D M Sukhtankar, to initiate Ayurvedic treatment. Trustees Sunita Kshirsagar, Bhaskarrao Borawake, and Rajiv Roham extended support. Eventually, treatment began, and the patient recovered. After this, approval was granted to start a separate Ayurveda department in the hospital.
Over the years, patients from various districts across the state have been visiting Shirdi to seek treatment from Dr Avhad, who was recently honoured by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu.
“I consider myself fortunate to have received the opportunity to serve patients free of cost for 25 continuous years in Sai Baba’s Darbar. Sansthan chief executive officer Goraksha Gadilkar, along with all past officials, extended valuable support to the Ayurveda department.”
— Dr Ramdas Avhad, Ayurvedacharya