A First in South Asia – Lanka Hospitals Diagnostics (LHD) and Koko collaborate to introduce game-changing healthcare financing option

May, 10, 2023

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 Dr. Geethani Galagoda, Head of Laboratories of LHD.

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.

Being a groundbreaker in Sri Lanka’s fintech industry, 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." - Naheed Zainudeen, Head of Commercial - Daraz Financial Services.

Being a trailblazer in medical laboratory services, 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. Through this extensive presence, LHD has enabled all citizens of Sri Lanka to benefit from top notch diagnostic services at affordable prices.

A fully owned subsidiary of Lanka Hospitals Corporation PLC, LHD is the first Sri Lankan laboratory to consistently be accredited with CAP for over 6 years since 2017 to date, a solid proof for the unmatched high standards achieved by LHD spearheading the benchmark for achieving quality at an affordable price in the healthcare industry and now ensuring that innovation and technology supports its customers wherever needed.

 

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