Lanka Hospitals invests Rs. 850 m to improve healthcare

By Rashika Fazali

In the backdrop of winning the ‘2012 National Quality Award’ for Healthcare in the Large Scale category, Lanka Hospitals CEO Lakith Peiris revealed that the hospital has invested Rs. 850 million on new labs around Sri Lanka and new tests as part of its plan to further improve the standard of healthcare provided at Lanka Hospitals.

At a press conference held at Lanka Hospitals on Tuesday (30), he stated that they had already started on their plan to establish regional labs in places like Jaffna, Kandy, Anuradhapura, Galle and others with the main referral lab located at the Lanka Hospitals in Colombo.

Peiris stated that the Colombo lab would be an up-to-date referral lab and is currently being constructed on the seventh floor of the hospital, taking up a space of 10,000 sq ft. “Within 24 months, the total network in the country would be completed,” he confirmed.

In addition, Lanka Hospitals will also introduce 500 new tests to Sri Lanka for the first time.

Currently, the hospital has a staff of 1,004 and 242 beds. An addition of 27 more beds is expected in 60 days’ time.

Peiris told the Daily FT that their next step, having received the ‘National Quality Award,’ will be to focus on achieving the Joint Commission International (JCI) Accreditation for healthcare, which signifies a gold standard in hospitals worldwide. “This is the highest certification in the world a hospital can get. No one in Sri Lanka has this award. Only four hospitals in Asia have the JCI accreditation,” stated Peiris. He further noted that having this certification would open Lanka Hospitals to medical tourism.

The JCI accreditation is awarded for achieving high standards in patient safety. By receiving this certification, patients can be assured that the hospital runs according to high standards and can look forward to the utmost attention and care.

At present Lanka Hospitals has completed 50% of the goals towards achieving JCI accreditation. Peiris added: “We will be having a mock event in November. Hopefully by next January, we will have the certification.” He further added that without this certification, there was nothing much for a hospital to talk about.

Speaking on the status of the healthcare sector, Sri Lanka Standards Institute (SLSI) CEO and Director General Lalith Seneweera stated that many hospitals were trying to improve on quality as it was seen as a vital factor for citizens. “If you don’t improve the quality aspect of the hospital, a lot of people will have issues.”

Lanka Hospitals Medical Services Director Wimal Karandagoda stated: “The hospital industry in the world is not very well managed. However, many hospitals have taken time to build a quality hospital and only some hospitals have managed it. Some hospitals don’t care for their patients as humans.”

He further acknowledged the hospital’s victory, stating: “It is a remarkable achievement in regard to the healthcare sector. Only four hospitals including Government hospitals have received this award. After 15 years, a private hospital has won this award.”

He added that the hospital has a system for strategic planning where they also look after their work force very well.