Expolanka’s ‘Expo-Medix’ treats 50,000th patient

Expolanka Holdings PLC recently reached its milestone 50,000th patient in its flagship CSR program ‘Expo Medix,’ a fast growing chain of affordable medical clinics.

Inspired by the idea of providing free medical consultation and subsidised drugs to patients, ‘Expo Medix’ today treats patients in Mattakkuliya, Slave Island, Grandpass, Wattala and Kalutara with an average of over 200 patients visiting each clinic weekly.

Commenting on the project, Head of Marketing, Corporate Communications & CSR for Expolanka Holdings PLC Paddy Weerasekera said: “The idea for Expo Medix started out as a community support program for the people living in the areas where we work and operate in, in line with our core values. This program which launched off with a simple clinic in Mattakkuliya is today a fully-fledged chain of medical clinics served by qualified doctors and nurses. The clinics are fully functional in providing medical consultation, diagnostics services and operations for minor surgery requirements. They also provide medicines and drugs at a subsidised cost.”Sri Lanka provides free healthcare services to all its citizens irrespective of status, income or geographic location. The country has also achieved a remarkable standard of health, particularly in relation to neighbouring countries with similar income patterns. In line with its credo, ‘Expo Medix’ also addresses patients from the lower income segments, those who are unable to afford the usually high-priced private healthcare system and find themselves unable to address their immediate health needs satisfactorily.

Caring for stakeholder interest being a core value of Expolanka Holdings, a culture of prioritising community development in whatever it does has been fostered throughout the Group. This community-oriented culture ensures that all business activity is undertaken in an ethical and sustainable manner while keeping the best interest of the community in mind. In line with this credo, ‘Expo Medix’ strives to bridge this gap by giving an affordable solution to the people without compromising on quality and efficiency of health services.

“It is important for us as an organisation to make a difference in the lives of our stakeholders. ‘Expo Medix’ highlights our involvement in the communities that we work with, by prioritising their basic health needs,” Weerasekera concluded.

Expolanka’s origins date back to the 1970s, as an exporter of fresh produce. Now more than 30 years later, Expolanka Holdings is one of Sri Lanka’s finest award-winning enterprises, which has achieved phenomenal successes. The company is listed in the Main Board of the Colombo Stock Exchange as a diversified conglomerate.

With diversified interests in freight and logistics, travel and leisure, international trading and manufacturing and strategic investments sectors, the Group, which has a global presence in over 12 countries and 38 cities, has 60 subsidiaries and joint venture companies.

The Group firmly believes that entrepreneurship and business values need to go hand in hand to grow successful, sustainable businesses as Expolanka’s businesses have been built on a solid foundation of values, which has remained the bedrock of its operations.

Over the years the company has initiated several long-term and short-term CSR initiatives. These include ‘Expo Medix’ – a low cost medical clinic, free health camps and awareness programs on health and diseases, degree scholarship programs, tsunami and disaster relief, infrastructure development, food programs and environmental initiatives, including Earth Hour and Environment Day activities.

All CSR projects are focused on five areas, namely, health, education, environment, community development and disaster relief, covering most of the societal needs of the country and thus establishing Expolanka as a corporate citizen working for a better tomorrow.