A first in South Asia: LHD and Koko collaborate to introduce game-changing healthcare financing option

From left: Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics Senior Finance Business Partner Sandun Wajira Kumara, Head of Laboratories Dr. Geethani Galagoda, Chief Marketing Officer Nimal Ratnayake, Group Chief Executive Officer Deepthi Lokuarachchi, Daraz Financial Services Head of Commercial Naheed Zainudeen, KOKO Merchant Success Executive Shakthi Bhanuka, Executive - Business Development Feroz Amjah, Group Chief Financial Officer Badrajith Siriwardana

Sri Lanka’s leading laboratory and diagnostics service, Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics (LHD) recently partnered with the region’s largest ‘Buy Now - Pay Later’ (BNPL) App, Koko. 

LHD is the first laboratory service to partner up with Koko whereby LHD clients are offered the convenience of making payments in three interest-free instalments.   

Koko, launched in 2020 is a venture by Sri Lanka’s largest e-commerce company Daraz. The service quickly gained popularity post-COVID-19 due to the convenience it offered to users to pay in 3 equal instalments within 60 days at 0% interest. Koko’s focus on catering to both credit and debit cardholders has resulted in outstanding growth within a short span of time, with the App counting over 500,000 users and 2000+ merchants across the island at present.

“LHD focuses on cutting-edge technological advancements and gears its innovations to keep abreast with international medical laboratory standards. We believe that every Sri Lankan deserves to be treated through insights gathered from an accurate medical laboratory report. LHD’s partnership with Koko signifies the commitment to make quality healthcare affordable to all Sri Lankans.” said LHD Head of Laboratories Dr. Geethani Galagoda.

Dr. Galagoda further stated that the unprecedented economic challenges have compelled the majority of citizens to prioritise their spending. She further highlighted the salience of prioritising healthcare spending over other forms of expenses, as negligence in primary screening laboratory tests can exacerbate to greater health complications that will demand a greater amount of spending which will severely compromise the quality of living. 

Koko aims to bring financial freedom and convenience to its customers, whilst enabling growth for brands, retailers and businesses. Koko’s intent to serve the 18 million debit cardholder base and beyond in Sri Lanka has proven to be fruitful, allowing the App to penetrate deep into the Sri Lankan population. 

“Koko is, first and foremost, committed to bettering the lives of all Sri Lankans, whether it be financial freedom or in this instance, affordable access to lifesaving services. Our partnership with LHD is a testament to that mission. We are excited to collaborate with a pioneer in medical laboratory services and offer our users the convenience of easy instalment plans for important diagnostic services with just a simple sign-up for access to instant credit limits and interest free instalments, even with a debit card,” said Daraz Financial Services Head of Commercial Naheed Zainudeen.

A fully owned subsidiary of Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC, LHD stands tall as the only College of American Pathologists (CAP) accredited lab chain with an extensive presence across the country counting over 50 fully owned laboratory outlets and 9 minilabs, coupled with the globally accredited, state-of-the-art, reference laboratory complex at Narahenpita.