Nawaloka Hospitals to open country’s first private sector Chest and Sleep Unit

Nawaloka Hospitals Chairman Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa with Dr. Vajira Thennakoon at the opening ceremony

In a continuation of its efforts to ensure specialised care for patients combating respiratory illness, healthcare leader Nawaloka Hospitals declared open the country’s first private sector dedicated Chest and Sleep Unit at its hospital in Colombo on 10 October.

The unit will offer a comprehensive line-up of treatment options which include clinics that tackle chest infections, coughs, bronchial asthma, wheezing, chronic obstructive lung diseases, allergies and rhinitis, sleep deprivation, smoking addiction and lung cancer. 

There will also be a host of other services available, such as lung function assessments, general examinations of patients exhibiting a chronic cough and shortness of breath, cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and allergic skin prick testing. 

The event was graced by distinguished attendees from the medical fraternity while the Chief Guest at the opening ceremony was Nawaloka Hospitals Chairman Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa.

“By opening the country’s first Chest and Sleep Unit, we are catering to the diverse treatment needs of patients battling a variety of lung and sleep problems. In addition to our expert treatment, we are looking to provide them with specialised care and thorough consultation and education delivered by experienced staff operating in a friendly atmosphere,” said Respiratory and Chest Specialist Dr. Riaz Mowjood, who heads the Respiratory and Chest Unit at Nawaloka Hospitals. 

“Throughout the country there are so many screening and treatment programs for various ailments but there are rarely any programs that specifically target the lungs. We felt this was an imminent and crucial requirement for the obvious reason that if you are trying to enjoy life and live it to the fullest then the most important things you need to have are a pair of healthy lungs and a good night’s rest,” said Dr. Dharmadasa. 

Under the visionary leadership of the group’s Chairman, Dr. Dharmadasa, Nawaloka aspires to differentiate by emulating the success of reputed hospitals in the Asian region; offering a strategic combination of advanced medical technology and expert medical care. Since then, the group has consistently set the benchmark for excellence in healthcare both in Sri Lanka and across the South Asian region. It has proudly pioneered the introduction of several advanced technology developments in the country, elevating the quality and accuracy of diagnostics. 

These include state-of-the-art CT, MRI scanners, a mammography unit, and a cardiac catheterisation lab, all of which were firsts in Sri Lanka; the first coronary artery bypass unit in a private hospital; Fibroscan, the first non-invasive way of checking liver health in Sri Lanka; and a prominent highlight would be the introduction South Asia’s first 640 slice CT scanner. 

In 2018, the ISO-certified healthcare provider also launched a major, state-of-the-art specialist centre with fully-equipped units and over 500 expert consultants covering multiple disciplines. Nawaloka Hospitals is currently listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange and is the only private healthcare provider in Sri Lanka to have earned the coveted ‘baby-friendly’ status from the World Health Organisation.