Asiri Central Hospital marks successful paediatric cardiothoracic surgery

Tuesday, 22 April 2025 03:52 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Asiri Central Heart Centre, on completion of a very successful decade of saving hearts, recently launched its paediatric (congenital) cardiothoracic surgery program.

The first Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) surgery was performed on 25 January by Dr. M.S. Mugunthan, (MBBS (Jaf), MD Surgery (Col), MRCS (Eng), MRCSEd), a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon attached to both the Lady Ridgeway Hospital (LRH) for Children, Colombo, and Asiri Health. Dr. Asitha Dassanayake, (MBBS), (MD) Consultant Anaesthetist, provided expert support during the surgery and with the aftercare, as the child recovered in the ICU.

The surgery, funded under the free insurance scheme offered by the Government, the Suraksha Student Insurance Scheme, was a lifeline for the young patient who had been on the long waiting list at LRH. The parents, burdened by the uncertainty of securing timely surgery, found hope and relief through Asiri Health’s intervention. “We are so grateful to the officials at Asiri Health who reached out to us during this difficult time. No words can express our happiness and thankfulness. This is a shining example of social responsibility in action,” said the parents, overwhelmed with gratitude.

Dr. Mugunthan commented on the success of the procedure, stating that this program is a boon for patients, allowing them to undergo surgery without a long wait, while reducing the waiting list for complex surgeries in the Government sector. He also mentioned that, although this was the first paediatric cardiothoracic surgery performed at Asiri Central Hospital, the experience, skill, and support from the team at Asiri Central ensured the seamless execution of the surgery.

Asiri Health Group CEO Dr. Manjula Karunaratne said: “At Asiri Health, we are driven by a mission to provide accessible, world-class healthcare that transforms lives. We are very happy that the success of this collaboration with the public sector has opened a new avenue for us to reach and provide high-quality medical care to the more vulnerable members of our country.”

Asiri Central Hospital Director of Operations Nihal Ratnayake said: “This is a proud milestone for Asiri Central Hospital. By launching paediatric cardiothoracic services, we are actively contributing to saving the lives of young Sri Lankans.”

Group Head of Business Development Bathiya Jayasinghe said: “This surgery is a prime example of the synergy that can be achieved through collaboration. It’s a true win-win-win situation: patients gain access to life-saving procedures without financial burden, Government hospitals like LRH can reduce their waiting lists for critical cases, and Asiri Health strengthens its position as a leader in advanced medical care. It took significant effort to coordinate resources, streamline processes, and ensure this child received the care they urgently needed. The outcome, however, certainly justifies all of it.”

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