The Lanka Hospitals Corporation is looking to increase capacity and expand into regions beyond Colombo. It is also exploring partnerships with investors and is urging the public sector to support growth into medical tourism. Lakith Peiris of Lanka Hospitals said; “We are discussing with other parties and investors the possibility of partnerships or joint ventures to build new hospitals in the country. These discussions are at the early stages and we are still exploring the possibilities.”
The hospital has plans to open an international patient care centre in a bid to cater to foreign patients. It will start to promote medical tourism this year, as it believes Sri Lanka is well on its way to be recognised as a medical destination.
Ashok Pathirage of Softlogic Holdings also sees potential, saying; “Sri Lanka has a well developed healthcare sector and the country should promote health tourism where there is a huge potential in the international market. The country’s medical sector is highly qualified and is capable of providing specialised treatment. Sri Lanka could be promoted as a health tourism destination with the expected influx of tourists.” Softlogic Holdings plans to set up a state-of-the-art hospital in Kandy and will focus on becoming a treatment centre similar to services offered by Singapore. While the company is looking for private backers, it is also calling on the government to support the national healthcare services improve standards and market itself to foreign patients.
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