Hyderabad, April 16 (IANS) Octogenarian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba's condition remained critical Saturday but he is responding to treatment, say doctors. The godman might be shifted to his residence in about a fortnight.
The 85-year-old was admitted to hospital nearly three weeks ago. He remains on ventilator support and CRRT (continuous renal replacement therapy) at Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh.
The medical bulletin issued by the hospital Saturday morning said all his vital parameters continue to be nearly normal.
"The panel of doctors treating him are satisfied with the response, although slow, shown by him to the treatment. They are satisfied with the stability of the parameters and other indices of his health," said the bulletin.
"He continues to be in a critical state of health," the statement added.
Sai Baba, who has millions of devotees in India and abroad, was admitted to the hospital March 28 and suffers from multiple-organ dysfunction.
As a section of devotees have approached the court and the state human rights commission, seeking clarity on Baba's health condition, the mystery surrounding his illness has mounted with Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust planning to shift him from hospital to his residence at Prasanthi Nilayam.
Some of the devotees, including former MP Adikeshavulu Naidu, have alleged that a few members of the trust were responsible for his illness. He alleged that medical experts were being denied access to the spiritual leader.
The devotees are also demanding the government come out with all the details of the powerful trust, which owns assets worth thousands of crores of rupees and manages all social and charitable activities in India and abroad.
The trust late Friday issued a statement saying the health status of Baba is under constant review by the trust.
"They (doctors) are confident that if the progress continues to be stable and satisfactory as at present, it might be possible to shift him from the hospital to his residence at Prasanthi Nilayam in about a fortnight," the statement said.
"His residence is being readied in all aspects to receive him and provide him the required level of follow up medical care as also emergency services," it added.