Nawaloka, Durdans join Asiri in Doc990 joint venture with Dialog

Seated (from left):  Dialog Axiata PLC Digital Services Vice President Fariq Cader, Nawaloka Hospital PLC Director Harshith Dharmadasa, Dialog Axiata PLC Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, Ceylon Hospitals PLC Marketing and Business Development Head Rakshitha Tudawe, and Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC Group CEO Dr. Manjula Karunaratne.

Standing (from left): Nawaloka Hospital PLC Finance and Corporate Planning Head Nalaka Niroshana, Digital Health Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Apsara Wijayawardene, Ceylon Hospitals PLC, Supply Chain Head Aminda Tudawe, Ceylon Hospitals PLC IT Head Sanjeewa Kodikara and Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC Operations Director Dr. Samanthi De Silva

• Two hospitals take equity stake in Digital Health Ltd

Doc990, operated by Digital Health Ltd., announced yesterday the expansion of the joint venture partnership in Digital Health Ltd., with equity investments from Nawaloka Hospitals PLC and Ceylon Hospitals PLC (Durdans). 

It is a joint venture between Digital Holdings Lanka Ltd. and a wholly owned subsidiary of Dialog Axiata PLC, together with Asiri Hospital Holdings PLC.

This collaboration between Sri Lanka’s premier connectivity provider and the three leading private hospital groups aims to transform the digital healthcare eco system by leveraging Dialog’s technology and digital platforms with healthcare expertise of its joint venture partners. This unique venture, launched in 2016, has connected more than 1500 doctors in over 80 hospitals through its digital health platform which is accessible via doc.lk, by dialling 990, or via the Doc990 app.

Subsequent to the fresh infusion of equity by Nawaloka and Durdans, the shareholding structure of Digital Health Ltd will comprise of Digital Holdings Lanka owning 53.2% while Asiri, Nawaloka and Durdans Hospitals will hold 22.8%, 15% and 9% respectively. 

Doc990 currently offers a range of medical services including channelling doctor sessions at hospitals island-wide for physical consultations, the Tele Doctor service where leading consultants could be contacted over the phone, delivery of medicine to the doorstep, and access to lab reports at key laboratories via the Doc990 web portal. Sri Lanka’s leading medical booking app, Doc990 app is integrated to all mobile operators and banks for multiple payment options such as add-to-bill, eZ Cash, Genie, Amex, Visa and Master Cards.

Dialog Axiata Group Chief Executive Supun Weerasinghe, welcoming the new joint venture partners said: “We are confident that Doc990 will help transform the digital health space, and thank all joint venture partners for placing their confidence to partner this venture to fast track Sri Lanka’s digitisation journey in the healthcare space”

Nawaloka Hospital Chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said: “We would like to announce another milestone in providing convenience and value to our customers by partnering with Digital Health, the pioneer in offering integrated healthcare services to Sri Lankans. We are certain this partnership will transform the healthcare landscape and its offerings.”

Commenting on the partnership, Ceylon Hospitals Marketing and Business Development Head Rakshitha Tudawe said: “Disrupting conventional healthcare systems and paving the way for a digital ecosystem has been our vision. Durdans Hospital takes pride in the new venture with Digital Health, and we are optimistic that this partnership will help us further expand our digitisation efforts across the health industry.”

This formidable partnership is expected to transform the healthcare behaviour and journey of the customer to provide a digitally empowering experience for their healthcare needs, extending a wide spectrum of healthcare services to millions of subscribers from the convenience of their mobile phones and the website.

Asiri Hospital Holdings Group CEO Dr. Manjula Karunaratne said: “It is with great pleasure that we extend our partnership with Digital Health to Durdans Hospital and Nawaloka Hospitals. The venture has shown remarkable growth in a short period of time, and continues to revolutionise the space of digital health in Sri Lanka.”

Digital Health Chief Executive Officer Apsara Wijayawardene said: “We continuously strive to be at the forefront of innovation, to deliver convenience and empower Sri Lankans in their healthcare journey. We would like to welcome onboard Nawaloka Hospitals and Durdans Hospitals, who will further propel and help transform Sri Lanka’s healthcare landscape and infrastructure to enrich Sri Lankan lives.”