Mata Amritanandamayi Math (MAM), the non-governmental organization founded by renowned humanitarian and spiritual leader Mata Amritanandamayi Devi ,apart from the spiritual and cartiable activities, is doing a host of healthcare activities for the benefit of humanity.
Mata Amritanandamayi, known throughout the world as Amma or Mother, for her selfless love and compassion toward all beings, stresses on reaching out to the poor and suffering, seeing the inherent unity. It is this vision that serves as the inspiration and drive behind the Ashram’s vast network of medical services for the poor and needy—an ever growing circle of hospices, care centres and hospitals aimed at providing state-of-the-art compassionate care to one and all.
Amrita Institute of Medical Science
The crown jewel of these institutions is the Amrita Institute of Medical Science or AIMS, a super-specialty hospital in Cochin, Kerala. Born out of Amma’s desire to provide outstanding and affordable medical care to all , AIMS is one of Asia’s premier medical hospitals. Patients come to the hospital from all parts of India and the world. It offers cost-effective and comprehensive healthcare solutions comparable to the best hospitals in the world.
Since its inception in 1998, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) has grown from a 100 bed speciality hospital to a 1600 bed super-specialty tertiary-care, health science campus integrated to a medical college hospital. It is now standing as one of the leading high-tech hospitals in Asia. Amrita Institute may be one of the rare places where science meets life. Here, the advancement of science and technology is available to the common man at an affordable cost.
It has 25 modern operating theatres, 210 well equipped intensive-care beds, a fully computerized and networked Hospital Information System (HIS), a fully digital radiology department, a 24/7 telemedicine service and a NABL accredited clinical laboratory, 50 clinical departments, and a dozen para-clinical departments. A full range of primary and specialty care medical services enables cross-specialty consultation which assures outstanding treatment for each patient.
Medical Education & Research
The hospital now includes the Schools of Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing and Pharmaceutical Sciences, which are part of Amrita University offering educational programmes both at graduate and post graduate levels.
The present areas of advanced clinical research include: Molecular Biology, Molecular Medicine, Nano Medicine, Inborn Disorders of Metabolism, Bio-degradable Stent, Heart Muscle Disease, Tumour Immunology, Electrical Disorders of the Heart, Non Contact Mapping and RF Ablation Studies, Atrial Fibrillation – Genesis and Management, Vulnerable Plaque Recognition and Management, Studies on Tropical Pancreatitis & Hepatitis B.
Many ongoing projects are approved and supported by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the Department of Science and Technology and other national and international research bodies.
Sharing of capabilities and exchange of information between medical centres around the world Amrita has an on going partnership with over 60 medical entities in the United States, Canada and Europe that allows it to leverage our medical and clinical expertise with the technological expertise of these centres to deliver some of the best medical solutions for our patients.
Amrita currently have a student and faculty exchange program with over 30 countries that provides a hands-on care and skills development programme, using state-of-the-art simulation environment, including computer programs, mannequins and cadavers, teach skills rapidly with minimum risk of complications etc.
More than ever Amrita is reaching out into the community and fulfilling its mission: “To provide outstanding and affordable medical care in a patient-friendly environment and in a spirit of compassion to all, regardless of race, caste, religion or economic condition. Charitable care to the fullest extent possible is provided to those in need.”
The quality and ethical standards of Amrita have influenced other hospitals in the area to improve the quality of care, lower the cost of the services they provide, and begin reaching out to the poor.
Telemedicine services
Through the Amrita Telemedicine service, Amma has found yet another way of reaching out to her children to ease their suffering. Telemedicine is a method by which specialist doctors can examine, investigate, monitor and treat patients in remote areas through satellite video-conferencing. Medical images, patient records and output from medical devices can be transmitted, as well as live two-way audio and video. Specialists can advise, online, doctors or paramedics at the patient’s end, and if necessary even guide them in surgery.
AIMS has been providing compassionate care through telemedicine since 2003, servicing remote islands such as Lakshadweep and Andaman-Nicobar, as well as Leh-Ladakh in Kashmir. Now, more than 32 centres India are connected from Amrita. Amrita has also used the technology to provided speciality medical support during times of natural disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and 2008 Bihar floods.
Telemdicine links
Aside from providing consultations to the remote corners of India, Amrita uses its telemedicine link to educate doctors in remote primary centres to the latest medical advancement through seminars, workshops and teaching programmes.
Amrita’s telemedicine programme is made possible through its link with an ISRO [Indian Space Research Organisation satellite.
The Ashram also runs a cancer hospice in Mumbai and an AIDS care home in Trivandrum. Teams of doctors regularly make trips to remote villages to conduct eye camps, health-awareness campaigns and check-ups. Ambulances and medical teams travel to disaster areas. Free medical dispensaries for the public are located both in Amritapuri as well as in Amma’s branch ashrams. More charitable hospitals are located in Mysore, Karnataka as well as in Pampa and Kalpetta, Kerala. All these branch hospitals are connected to AIMS via a telemedicine satellite link .
Ayurveda
For the propogation of the ancient system of ayurveda, the Ayurveda college and hospital in Amritapuri campus was established in 2004. Amrita School of Ayurveda is a constituent unit of the Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, a university established under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956. The university is accredited with “A” grade by National Assessment and Accreditation council (NAAC).
Amrita Ayurveda Hospital offers a comprehensive set of classical treatments and therapies. All therapies are administered by our highly-trained staff in a spirit of caring, loving service. Female therapists perform all treatments for female patients.
Unlike other places that provide ayurvedic treatments, Amrita Ayurveda Hospital emphasizes on the traditional and authentic practice of Ayurveda based on classical scriptures. Thereby, the spirit of the ayurvedic tradition is kept alive. This brings about the best results for patients. Moreover, the hospital has an attached School of Ayurveda, that trains thousands of students every year in this sacred tradition.
Amrita Yoga
Amrita Yoga is an integrated yoga practice that adapts ancient teachings of yoga to the needs of modern life. Through its practice one expands awareness, gain equanimity of mind and access the full potential that lies within oneself.
Amrita Yoga intensives and immersions are currently offered in Amritapuri, Kerala. Here, asana is taught as a devotional practice inspired by and focused on the spiritual teachings of Amma. The ashram serves as a sanctuary, where one can contemplate, reflect and recharge, while broadening one’s experience of yoga
The intensives and immersions offer a complete experience of ashram life and fully integrate all four paths of yoga. The daily schedule includes two asana classes, chanting of mantras and devotional songs, spiritual talks and seva (selfless service).
Daily asana classes are taught at the foundational, beginners and intermediate level. The daily classes introduce Amrita Yoga and its unique elements: the integration of Amma’s spiritual teachings and the internal chanting of mantras during asana practice. The Surya Namaskaram sequence is taught as part of the daily classes.