Hemas Hospital celebrated the World Children's Day on the 1st of October with the children of childrens' wards of Ragama Teaching Hospital and Thalagolla Children's Home at the Ward 2 of Ragama Teaching Hospital.

Nearly 200 children participated at this programme. The Chief guest of the programme was one of the thalasimia patients of the hospital. Dr. Roy Perera, Director of the Ragama Teaching Hospital was also present at the event. The programme included several entertainment and educational items presented by, children, nurses, medical students and popular artists.

The Health Education Unit of the hospital demonstrated the proper way of brushing teeth using Clogard Toothpaste and tooth brushes. All the children received a food pack a gift and, a Clogard toothbrush and a tooth paste sachet with the complements of Hemas Hospital and Clogard.    

Hemas  Hospital, Wattala  is now equipped to perform cataract surgery using the latest available technique known as 'Micro incision' cataract surgery (MICS). This revolutionary surgery is done with state-of-the-art equipment called Stellaris Vision Enhancement System.
Hemas is the first private hospital in Sri Lanka to introduce this form of cataract surgery.
“It is a super safe, painless, speedy and super accurate technique of performing cataract surgery", says Dr Shamintha Amarathunga, Consultant Eye Surgeon. "The recovery after the surgery is instantaneous. There’s no use of pad or bandage and the patient can resume work in one day. The incision made on the eye is 50 % smaller than the regular surgery which makes it easy to heal. MICS results in less astigmatism and lesser requirement of post operative Spectacles. It offers enhanced quality of postoperative vision and with improved IOLs one enjoys an enhanced vision contrast.”

"We are glad to become the first private hospital in Sri Lanka to introduce this safe and advanced technique of cataract surgery at a very affordable price", commented Dr. Aruna Rabel, Director Medical Services, Hemas Hospital Wattala. "Since it is very beneficial for diabetic patients and as minimal restrictions are imposed following surgery, we see a significant increase in the demand for MICS."

He added that Hemas Hospitals is keeping to the promise that the services would be continuously improved by introducing the latest technology available in the world coupled with the best medical professionalism. "We have also strengthened our eye unit with a latest OCT eye scanner," he said.

Cataract is a common disease of the eye when the clouding of lens occurs in old age. The only successful treatment available for cataract is the removal of the clouded eye lens through surgery.

The improvements in cataract surgery over the past few decades have been truly remarkable.  In the early days it was only the removal of the lens and the patients had to wear spectacles with thick lenses after the surgery. This was followed by the invention of intra ocular lens which is a lens implanted in the eye.  The size of the incision made on the eye has been reduced from over 10 mm to 2.6 mm with the invention of phacoemulsification technique and the foldable lenses. This was called small incision cataract surgery.

With the introduction of the latest technique, it has been further reduced to 1.8 mm. Because of the smaller incision, it has been renamed micro-incision surgery. A 3rd generation ultra thin foldable Intra ocular lens called MIL (Micro incision Intra ocular Lens) between 1.6-1.8 mm thick is implanted after removal of the clouded lens.

Hemas Hospital, Wattala, which began its operations in December 2008 has made a name for itself in a short period of time as a patient-friendly hospital with the latest state-of-the-art equipment and technology. The Hospital boasts of Sri Lanka's first state-of-the-art open magnet MRI scanner, “Maathru” value added baby delivery package, “Suwa Sathkam” fixed price packages for surgery and its laboratory, the only fully automated laboratory in Sri Lanka.

Hemas Hospitals is a subsidiary of Hemas Holdings. Hemas is one of Sri Lanka's leading conglomerates with a focus on five key sectors - FMCG, Healthcare, Transportation, Leisure and Power Generation. 

Hemas Hospitals recently enjoyed the honour of receiving an international accreditation from the prestigious Australian Council of Healthcare Standard International (ACHSI) which is Australia’s leading healthcare accreditation provider delivering accreditation and quality improvement programmes throughout the world. This prestigious accreditation that applies to both Hemas Hospitals facilities in Wattala and Galle makes it the first chain of healthcare facilities to receive such an international accreditation in Sri Lanka.

An accreditation is a formal process to ensure delivery of safe, high quality healthcare based on internationally accepted standards and processes devised and developed by healthcare professionals for healthcare services. It is public recognition of achievement by a healthcare organization, of requirements of international healthcare standards.

Accreditation has been defined as "A self-assessment and external peer assessment process used by health care organizations to accurately assess their level of performance in relation to established standards and to implement ways to continuously improve"

Accreditation systems are structured so as to provide objective measures for the external evaluation of quality and quality management. At the heart of these schemes is a list of standards which, ideally, serve to assess evaluate in a systematic and comprehensive way the standards of professional performance in a hospital.

The ceremonial awarding of the ACHSI accreditation certificate was held at the Cinnamon Lakeside on the 2^nd June amidst a gathering of distinguished guests. The chief guest for the event was the Deputy Minister of Health Honorable Lalith Dissnayake, also present were HE Ms. Kathy Klugman the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Dr. Desmond Yen, Executive Director -  ACHSI, Dr Hari Sivadas - ACHSI Surveyor, Dr. David Miller - Manger International Businesses, ACHSI and Dr. Ravindra Ruberu – Secretary,Ministry of Health.

The speakers at the event included the Dr. Ravindra Ruberu – Secretary,Ministry of Health, Dr. Desmond Yen,  Chairman of Hemas Holdings PLC Deshamanya Lalith De Mel , Dr. FirdosiRustom Mehta Country Representative for The World Health Organization as well as HE Ms. Kathy Klugman the Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka. Chairman Hemas Hospitals Mr. Murtaza Esufally and Dr. Aruna Rabel Director Medical Services at Hemas Hospitals also expressed their thoughts on this historic achievement.

This significant accreditation was awarded to Hemas Hospitals following a comprehensive survey of both hospitals in Wattala and Galle conducted in March this year. The accreditation considers every aspect of the healthcare facility and bases its assessment on not only the standards set but on the processes that lie within the hospital as well, thus ensuring the highest quality is met across Clinical, Corporate and Support functions to satisfy the many criteria set by ACHSI.

The survey spanned clinical, support and corporate functions & includes criteria like continuity of care, access, appropriateness, effectiveness, safety, consumer participation and acceptability, risk management, HR management ,application of information technology and information management, leadership and strategic initiatives in healthcare &continuous quality improvement.

This extraordinary feat not only highlights Hemas Hospitals as the first in the country to receive international recognition but more importantly signifies the dawn of a new era in healthcare standards in Sri Lanka.

Hemas Hospitals participated in the Medicare 2011, the National Healthcare exhibition held at the B.M.I.C.H. from 4th - 6th March 2011. The exhibition was well attended by, general public, medical professionals, suppliers of pharmaceuticals & medical equipment, medical, nursing and para-medical students.

Hatton National Bank PLC 'Singithi Kirikatiyo' Newborn Baby Scheme was launched at Hemas Hospital recently.

The parents of the newborn will be given a Singithi Kirikatiyo gift voucher at the time of the birth of their loved one which can be used within a period of 3 months after the birth of the baby when presented along with a copy of the baby's birth certificate to any HNB customer centre to open a Singithi Kirikatiyo account.
 
This is yet another facility that Hemas Hospitals offer to parents of newborns for whom already a special package has been formulated. Under the Maathru scheme, the mothers are offered the opportunity to enjoy the highest quality in medical skill and care at a fixed price. Free antenatal classes are arranged under this scheme and numerous facilities are offered. These include discounts on essential vaccinations and investigations until the baby is ten years old.

Under the Singithi Kirikatiyo a scheme specially designed for newborn babies, parents of the newborn babies are given the opportunity to open a Singithi Kirikatiyo account by depositing Rs 1,000/-. When doing so the bank and the hospital inturn also gift an additional Rs 1,000/- and Rs 500/- respectively to the account. The scheme offers a number of unique and attractive benefits. In addition to these gifts from the bank and the hospital, an attractive Baby Book is presented to the parents at the time of opening the account.

Hemas Hospital, Wattala launched Maathru value added baby delivery package on 19th June 09,In addition to offering the baby delivery procedure at a fix price, Maathru entitles mothers and babies to additional benefits such as free antenatal classes and discounts for vaccinations for a period of 10 years.

Download Maathru Brochure: Sinhala / English

Hemas Hospital Wattala recently celebrated its 600th baby delivery. Baby Buthsandi Akithma Senanayake (600th baby) was welcomed by a nursing officer of the Maathru unit.

A cake was cut by the mother of baby Buthsandi and Dr.Sunil Fernando. A valuable gift pack was also presented to the lucky baby by Mr. Murtaza Esufally, Chairman of Hemas Hospitals.

Addressing the gathering Ms.Niluka, the mother of baby Buthsandi, thanked the entire Maathru team including nurses and doctors of the operating theatre for their support and excellent care given during her most needed time of baby delivery.   

14th Jun 09, A door to door dengue prevention program was jointly organized by Public Health Inspector of Raddolugama and the Voluntary Association of the scheme with the support of Hemas Hospitals. Every household was provided with an educative leaflet, a sticker and educational display boards were also erected on several selected public places within the scheme.

5th Mar 2009 , The official opening of the state-of-the-art Hemas Southern Hospital took place in Galle under the patronage of the Governor of the Southern Province Hon. Kumari Balasuriya and Chief Minister of the Southern Province Hon. Shan Wijelal De Silva.

Strategically located on the Galle - Wakwella Road in close proximity to the Galle Town, the Hemas Southern Hospital is a fifty bed facility. With the support of a team of eminent specialist consultants and equipped with all modern equipment, the Hospital is geared to cater to the diverse healthcare needs of the Southern Province. The in-patient facility easily ranks best among the private hospitals in the Southern Province.

Chairman Hemas Hospitals Murtaza Esufally said, "We're happy to bring our patient-centric, affordable, high quality health services to the people of the Southern Province within months of the launch of our flagship Wattala Hospital. Healthcare is not an area new to the Hemas Group. With experience in the pharmaceutical sector for more than 60 years, we're committed to further enhancing the provision of health services to Sri Lankans with this Rs. 500 million investment in Galle"

Chief Operating Officer of the Hemas Southern Hospital Dr. Sajeewa Narangoda said, "The previous Southern Hospital in Galle was well known among the residents of the Southern Province for more than two decades. The Hemas acquisition of the Southern Hospital saw a basic Nursing Home being transformed in record time into a fully fledged secondary care General Hospital. The Hemas Southern Hospital is today a state-of-the-art quality healthcare provider manned by some of the best and highly skilled medical professionals and powered by patient centric process flows that will undoubtedly add value to the entire healthcare industry on the Southern coast".

The launch of the Hemas Southern Hospital in Galle marks the further expansion of Hemas Hospitals in the healthcare service industry where it is committed to bring new standards of medical care to its patients. The multi-specialty, flagship 100 bed Hemas Hospital in Wattala is a technologically advanced facility catering to the medical needs of the entire family. With reputed Sri Lankan medical practitioners and trained nursing staff, it operates full services providing patient-centric, affordable, high quality health services to the people of the Gampaha district.

Hemas Group is one of the leading conglomerates in Sri Lanka with a focus on five key sectors - FMCG, Healthcare, Transportation, Leisure and Strategic Investments.

Governor of the Southern Province Hon. Kumari Balasuriya and Chief Minister of the Southern Province Hon. Shan Wijelal De Silva unveil the commemorative plaque to mark the opening of the Hemas Southern Hospital in Galle. Also in the picture are the Mayor of Galle His Worship Methsiri de Silva, Chairman Hemas Hospitals Murtaza Esufally, Chief Operating Officer of the Hemas Southern Hospital Dr. Sajeewa Narangoda and Director Medical Services of Hemas Hospitals Dr. Aruna Rabel.

Hemas hospital, Wattala conducted  a Free Blood Pressure checkup  program at  Vishaka Abimani Exhibition  which was held at Vishaka Vidyalaya, Makola from  09th to 11th July 09.

14th June 09, Hemas hospitals participated at a health camp which was organized by the Lions Club of Old Antonians, Wattala at St Anthony’s Church, Kirimatiyagara. 



Several hundreds of people from Kirimatiyagara and adjoining villages obtained treatment on this day.

28th June 09,Hemas Hospital, Wattala conducted a continuous medical education program for General Practitioners on “Management of Dengue Haemorrhagic Fever in General Practice”. The presentation was delivered by Dr Padmakanthi Wijesuriya, Consultant Pediatrician.

• Dedicated infection control team
• One way dirty corridors
• Special imported anti-bacterial flooring
• Policies, practices and guidelines
• Safe and hygienic food practices
• Approved antibiotic policies

Hemas Hospital held a public seminar on How to lead a normal life with Diabetes on the 07th of February 2009 at the hospital. The seminar was conducted in Tamil and English by Dr. K Thirumavalavan, Consultant Physician attached to the North Colombo Teaching Hospital, Ragama.

Parallel to this Hemas hospital also organized a free blood sugar testing campaign for more than 80 participants. The objective of this programme was to increase the awareness on diabetes among the community. 

Hemas Hospital Wattala organized a health camp in Kelaniya area on 31st of January 2009. Over 200 residents of the area belonging to all age groups visited this health camp and obtained treatment on this day. The camp included medical consultations, a pharmacy and diagnostic facilities.

Hemas Hospital Wattala organized a public lecture and a free breast examination programme at the hospital on 19th January 2009. The lecture was jointly delivered by Dr. Diana Jane Hastrich, Consultant Surgeoun, Mount Hospital, Australia and Dr. Jayantha Ariyaratna, Consultant Surgeon and Head of Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya. More than 100 participants attended the programme.  

Colombo 18 February 2009. The Hemas Hospital, Wattala recently conducted a symposium in collaboration with the College of General Practitioners in Sri Lanka and Sri Lanka Nurses Association on “Patient Safety and Safety in Nursing Care”.

Chief Guest was Secretary of the Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition, Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage while Prof. Isabelle Ellis from the Centre of Universities on Rural Health in Australia delivered the keynote address to more than 200 senior and administrative level nurses from both the public and private sector who participated in this event.

Also present on the occasion were Dr. Preethi Wijegoonawardene – President, World Association of Family Doctors (South East Asian Region), Dr. Eugene Corea – College of General Practitioners, Dr. Ruvini Abeygunaratne – Specialist Registrar in Neuro Surgery, Mrs. Hemamala Vithanarachchi – President, Sri Lanka Nurses Association, Mrs. Chandra Wijenayake – Matron, Durdans Hospital and Mrs. Christene Perera of ‘Patients for Patients’. 
                                         
Addressing the gathering, Secretary of the Ministry of Health Care and Nutrition Dr. Athula Kahandaliyanage said he was pleased to see that Hemas Hospital had taken the initiative to bring international best practices in nursing to the Sri Lankan nursing community. “This symposium is a fine example of Public-Private sector partnership which is a key principle of the Government of Sri Lanka. The private sector’s contribution to enhancing health care in Sri Lanka will be encouraged while more knowledge sharing opportunities of this nature should be created by both sectors”.

Speaking to the more than 200 nurses, Prof. Isabelle Ellis outlined the fundamentals of Patient Safety and Safety in Nursing Care and explained their intricacies in detail to the receptive audience. “Sri Lanka has achieved wonderful results in primary healthcare and has a great potential for further development. Patient Safety should be the fundamental basis of nursing care. The challenge is to create such a culture among healthcare workers in hospitals.” She added that she was pleased to assist in the initiatives taken by Hemas Hospital, Wattala to establish several international best practices in nursing in its new healthcare facility”

Director, Medical Services at Hemas Hospitals Dr. Aruna Rabel said that Hemas Hospitals was committed to upgrade the standards in patient care, particularly nursing, in Sri Lanka. We are very pleased to be a partner of this program and will continue to conduct educational programs of this nature in the future as well.”

The Hemas Wattala Hospital which completes six months of operations in March this year is a family hospital which provides patient-centric, affordable and high quality health services. The state-of-the-art facility has 100 beds, over a 100 Specialist Consultants, 05 operating theatres, MRI and CT Scanning, 24/7 lab, ICU and Emergency services.