"Sathya Sai Baba is responding to the treatment although the response is slow, which is expected in view that he is 86 years old," a health bulletin issued by A N Safaya, director of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences here, said this evening.

Though the response of Baba's kidneys to the treatment is encouraging, the need of dialysis is felt, it said.

"He still continues to be on ventilator supported respiration. The response of his kidneys is also encouraging, yet the need of dialysis is felt and therefore, he is being given a slow intermittent hemodialysis," it said.

Though he continues to be in a critical condition, the doctors are hopeful of success of the treatment being given to the baba.

"The doctors attending upon him are now quite hopeful about the success of the treatment being given to him. He continues to be critical," the bulletin said.

Sai Baba was admitted to the super-speciality hospital on March 28 following problems related to heart and respiration.

Doctors attending on him said he is suffering from multi-organ dysfunction.