Celebrating 15 years in healthcare Hemas signals bid for Lanka Hospitals

Tuesday, 7 November 2023 01:21 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hemas Hospitals Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris says looking for growth via acquisition of any healthcare assets available for sale
Govt. has called for Expression of Interests for 51.34% stake held by Treasury in Lanka Hospitals
Hemas’ organic growth plans include expanding bed capacity at Thalawathugoda Hospital from 70 to 150; launching in-demand cardiac care at Wattala hospital
To set up Sri Lanka’s first ever ambulatory surgical care centre in partnership with Alexandra Hospital of Singapore

Hemas yesterday marked 15 years of excellence in healthcare and signalled its intent to bid for Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC which is under the Government’s list of entities for divestiture. Hemas Hospitals Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris in a media interaction yesterday didn’t name Lanka Hospitals but said the company was looking to grow the business via acquisitions and expansion of its existing two hospitals in Wattala and Thalawathugoda.

“We will look at growth through acquisition of any healthcare assets available for sale or expand the bed capacity at Hemas Thalawathugoda from 70 to 150. We will also introduce much needed cardiac care at Wattala with an investment of Rs. 700 million. We will also expand our labs beyond the shores of Sri Lanka,” said Peiris at a media briefing on Hemas Hospitals’ 15th anniversary. He estimated that putting up a fresh 150-bed hospital will cost Rs. 6.7 billion whilst acquisitions would cost more.

“For scale we are looking at acquisitions and mergers at value for money,” added Dr. Peiris who prior to joining Hemas Hospitals in 2016 was the CEO of Lanka Hospitals for eight years.

Last month the Government called for Expression of Interests for 51.34% stake held by the Treasury in Lanka Hospitals.

The Managing Director also revealed that Hemas Hospitals will set up the country’s first ever ambulatory surgical care centre in partnership with Alexandra Hospital of Singapore. This facility will add to multiple pioneering feats Hemas Hospitals has achieved over the past 15 years including being the first internationally-accredited Lankan hospital chain.

“As we mark 15 years, we remain committed to our purpose ‘transforming lives through connected care and innovation.’ This means transforming lives by improving health outcomes through patient-centric care, delivering connected care through a seamless integrated approach enabling interoperability and innovation,” Dr. Peiris said.