Pune: The Spreading Smiles CSR campaign, led by SaiShree Vitalife Hospital in collaboration with Germany-based SORG (Strasbourg Osteosynthesis Research Group), is delivering advanced and accessible treatment to children born with cleft lips and cleft palates.
The initiative combines global medical expertise with advanced German technology to improve surgical outcomes and quality of life for affected children.
As part of the Spreading Smiles CSR campaign, an international team of doctors from SORG is visiting India for the third time, currently conducting surgeries at the newly opened Saishree Vitalife Hospital in Wakad.
The previous two editions of the programme were successfully held at Saishree Vitalife units in Aundh, Pune.
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Under the campaign, primary cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries are conducted entirely free of cost. In cases requiring secondary cleft surgeries at later stages, SaiShree Vitalife Hospital supports patients by covering the cost of advanced surgical instruments, including rigid external devices and distractors.
Spreading Smiles CSR Campaign Strengthens International Medical Collaboration
SORG is a globally recognised educational and research organisation that develops evidence-based guidelines and advanced treatment protocols for oral cancer surgery, maxillofacial trauma, cleft care, and jaw surgery.
SaiShree Vitalife Hospital, a 305-bed multi-speciality facility in Wakad, is part of the rapidly expanding Saishree Vitalife Group, which currently operates six clinics and three hospitals.
The collaboration brings together leading experts including Prof Dr P A W H Kessler, Maxillofacial and Plastic Surgeon and Head of the University of Maastricht; Dr Veronique Timmer; Dr Nynke Lie; Dr Saruchi Agrawal, Chairman of SORG India Chapter; Dr Neeraj Adkar, Chairman of Saishree Vitalife Group; and Dr Pushkar Waknis, Head of Department of Maxillofacial Surgery at Saishree Vitalife Hospital.
Dr Pushkar Waknis stated that the Spreading Smiles CSR campaign was initiated in 2012 following discussions with Prof Dr Kessler in the Netherlands, where a shared vision for long-term collaboration in cleft care was established.
Cleft lip and cleft palate are common congenital conditions that occur when facial tissues do not fuse properly during early pregnancy. If left untreated or delayed, they can lead to speech impairment, hearing issues, dental problems, and reduced quality of life.
The ideal age for primary cleft lip surgery is between three to six months, while cleft palate surgery is recommended between nine to eighteen months.
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According to Dr Neeraj Adkar, around 150 children have already benefited from the campaign, largely through community awareness and word-of-mouth referrals.
He emphasised the need to expand the initiative further, as timely cleft surgeries play a critical role in a child’s physical, emotional, and social development.
Dr Waknis also highlighted the role of advanced surgical techniques such as distraction osteogenesis and the use of Rigid External Devices (RED), which enable precise correction of facial deformities and promote natural bone growth.
These RED systems are donated by Germany-based surgical device manufacturer KLS Martin, further strengthening the Indo-German collaboration.
Dr Saruchi Agrawal added that SORG India’s broader objective is to enhance postgraduate education and hands-on training for surgeons in modern maxillofacial surgery, including cleft care, facial trauma management, and oral cancer reconstruction.
