Hemas Hospitals signs MOU with Ministry of Health to commence COVID-19 PCR testing

 From left: Hemas Hospitals Director Laboratories Dr. Chamila Ariyananda, Hemas Holdings Group CEO Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson, Hemas Hospitals Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris, Ministry of Health Secretary Major General Sanjeewa Munasinghe, Ministry of Health Additional Secretary (Medical Services) Dr. Sunil De Alwis and Ministry of Health Deputy Director General Laboratory Services Dr. Sudath Dharmarathne

• Operates a purpose-built PCR testing facility geared with the latest technology

Asserting its strong commitment in curbing the growing implications of the pandemic, leading private healthcare provider Hemas Hospitals signed an MOU with the Ministry of Health to commence COVID-19 PCR testing in a new state-of-the-art PCR laboratory on 5 March. Based in Wattala, the facility utilises the latest technology and is believed to be the most sophisticated laboratory by industry experts. It caters to inpatients, outpatients, foreign travellers, tourists, and corporates including factories and offices. 

The purpose-built facility was commissioned in partnership with LOLC and the Sri Lanka Institute of Nanotechnology (SLINTEC), under the expert guidance of Dr. Manju Gunawardene. Its services are further supplemented by an island-wide mobile sample collection service operated by highly trained and experienced team deployed by Hemas Hospitals. The timely initiative aims to address the current capacity issues and shortages that the healthcare community have been facing when attempting to secure COVID testing services. 

The Hemas PCR testing facility operates in negative pressure environment and is fully-automated for both sample extraction and identification with minimal human intervention to ensure non contamination. It also deploys an end-to-end digitalised process that is capable of electronic report delivery. Most significantly, all operations within the facility are over seen and managed by a highly-skilled and experienced team of molecular technologists under the supervision of an eminent consultant virologist. 

“As the fight against COVID-19 continues, we are deeply honoured to launch this new PCR testing facility for the benefit of all Sri Lankans. Our vision for this lab is to help contribute to increasing the COVID-19 PCR testing capacity of the country and minimise the virus’ damaging implications on our people. The advanced technology used in this laboratory makes it the perfect blueprint for the development of PCR Labs in Sri Lanka. Our dedicated and skilled team of experts managing this facility are fully geared and motivated to ensure nothing but the best in terms of speed and accuracy in diagnostics as well as safety for all stakeholders involved. We believe that it will play a key role in assisting the healthcare community during this crisis as the country fights to bring an end to this pandemic,” stated Hemas Hospitals Managing Director and President of the Association of Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Dr. Lakith Peiris. 

The MOU was signed by Hemas Holdings Group CEO Kasturi Chellaraja Wilson, Hemas Hospitals Managing Director Dr. Lakith Peiris, together with Ministry of Health Secretary Major General Dr. Sanjeewa Munasinghe and Additional Secretary (Medical Services) Dr. Sunil De Alwis.