Sunshine Healthcare Lanka Limited (SHL), a subsidiary of Sunshine Holdings PLC (CSE: SUN), has acquired a minority stake of 22% in Digital Health Private Limited (DHPL), the company behind Doc990. The investment marks a significant step in Sunshine's continued expansion across the healthcare value chain, extending its presence into the rapidly evolving digital healthcare space.

Operated by DHPL, a subsidiary of Dialog Axiata PLC, Doc990 connects patients, doctors, healthcare providers and corporates through mobile, web and call-based channels. As one of Sri Lanka's leading integrated digital healthcare platforms, Doc990 facilitates doctor appointments, digital consultations, payments and other healthcare services, helping patients access care with greater convenience.

The investment represents a natural progression in Sunshine Healthcare's growth strategy, complementing its established capabilities across pharmaceutical manufacturing, research and development, medical devices, pharmaceutical distribution and retail pharmacy operations. By entering the digital healthcare segment, Sunshine is further strengthening its presence across multiple healthcare verticals while establishing a more direct connection with patients.

Partnerships have played a central role in Sunshine's expansion across these healthcare segments. Its pharmaceutical agency business has been built on longstanding relationships with international principals, some spanning over four decades. In 2020, Sunshine combined its healthcare operations with those of Akbar Brothers, strengthening its pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities and establishing a fully integrated healthcare business.

This was followed by an equity partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in 2024, supporting investments in manufacturing, distribution infrastructure, medical devices and pharmacy retail. More recently, Sunshine partnered with India's Zydus Lifesciences to establish a pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Horana, further strengthening local production capabilities.

Commenting on the investment, Shyam Sathasivam, Group Chief Executive Officer of Sunshine Holdings PLC, said, “Over the years, we have built and grown Sunshine Healthcare through robust partnerships. From our longstanding relationships with international pharmaceutical principals to our collaborations with Akbar Brothers, IFC and Zydus, we have consistently worked with partners who share our commitment to strengthening healthcare in Sri Lanka. Our investment in Doc990 continues this approach, bringing Dialog's digital healthcare expertise alongside our established capabilities. We believe this combination presents an opportunity to bring healthcare services closer to patients and make accessing care simpler and more convenient.”

Supun Weerasinghe, Director/Group Chief Executive of Dialog Axiata PLC, said, “Doc990 was built with a vision to transform how healthcare is accessed through technology. As we enter its next phase of growth, Sunshine Healthcare’s investment creates new opportunities to build on this foundation, expand the role of digital health across the patient journey and strengthen Doc990’s contribution to a more connected healthcare ecosystem in Sri Lanka.”

The investment in Doc990 adds a new dimension to this growth journey, reinforcing Sunshine's long-term commitment to building a more accessible, connected and integrated healthcare ecosystem for Sri Lanka.

Image Caption: Shyam Sathasivam and Supun Weerasinghe after the signing of the agreement