Robot to assist staff at newly opened hospital in Iranawila dedicated to combating coronavirus

Setting up the AGV robot for operations

• Atlas commits to develop more AGV robots for hospitals fighting the pandemic

Atlas Axillia PLC, a subsidiary of the Hemas Group, handed over another homegrown Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) robot, to assist medical personnel in the remote monitoring and care of patients affected by the coronavirus. The handing over took place at the opening of the new dedicated COVID-19 treatment facility at Iranawila. The treatment centre was declared open on 7 March, by Minister of Health and Indigenous Medical Services Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Director General of Health Services Dr. Anil Jasinghe and National Operation Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Head Army Commander Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva.

The centre is led by Hospital Director Dr. Dimuth Ponweera and can accommodate 40 patients in the first phase of its development. Further expansion will be undertaken as the need arises. The Sri Lanka Army was instrumental in converting the building of a former Voice of America relay station into a fully-fledged specialist treatment centre in less than two weeks. This AGV robot is the second of its kind developed by Atlas Axillia. The prototype of the first AGV was handed over to the Homagama Base Hospital under the direction and guidance of Regional Director of Health Services Colombo Dr. Indika Jagoda, Base Hospital Homagama Medical Superintendent Dr. Janith Hettiarachchi, Director Organisation and Development Dr. Thilini Wanigasekara and Ministry of Health Anti Malaria Campaign Director Dr. Prasad Ranaweera.

The new AGV handed over at the Iranawila Treatment Centre will be able to carry food and medicine to patients. It also gives doctors the ability to monitor patients remotely while having conversations with them through the cameras mounted on it. The use of the AGV will enable healthcare workers to apply their expertise in managing the crisis more efficiently and to stay safe while saving lives.

The engineering team at Atlas is involved in this innovation with the sole intention of contributing to the national cause at this critical time of need.

“As a Sri Lankan company that has always acted with the national interest at heart for over 60 years, the company is humbled to have been invited to be a part of a national movement to overcome one of the biggest medical challenges the country has ever faced,” company officials stated. They further pledged to share their learnings with selected individuals and organisations that wish to produce more units to fight the pandemic and strengthen the protection of frontline healthcare workers.