Anna Hazare suffering from a severe chest congestion was tonight admitted to a private hospital here for further treatment following advice by doctors.
Dr. K.H. Sancheti who attended to Mr. Hazare on Saturday stated that this might signal the end of the crusader's fasting capacity, owing to his age and low resistance.
Speaking to The Hindu on telephone on Saturday, Dr. Sancheti said, “It is not advisable for Anna to go on fasts anymore, as his health condition and his age does not seem to permit it. I would strictly ask him to avoid it in the future.”
He stated that the fasts were having a "bad impact" on the crusader's health.
Dr. Sancheti said that the routine that Mr. Hazare follows during the fasts — cutting down intake, then completely starving and then slowly increasing food intake — has lead to "extreme exhaustion and low body resistance". Mr. Hazare caught viral fever a few days ahead of his scheduled three-day Mumbai fast, which he had to break after two days because of his failing health.
Dr. Sancheti stated that he had noticed pneumonia-like conditions: dry cough, extreme congestion and backache and had suggested to Mr. Hazare to be under observation at the Sancheti hospital in Pune for a week as a preventive measure. "Anna was adamant as usual in the beginning, but has agreed to follow the advice," he stated.
Owing to the delicate medical condition, the Core Committee meeting, scheduled to discuss the future course of action by Team Anna, has been cancelled, Mr. Hazare's aide Suresh Pathare tweeted on Saturday.
