The Cardiac Care Unit of Asiri Central Hospital, which has been successfully performing heart surgeries for a decade, recently initiated the Congenital Heart Surgery Program, a type of heart surgery for children.
The first Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) heart surgery performed under this scheme was performed by Specialist Cardiothoracic Surgeon M. S. Muhunthan (MBBS (Jaf), MD Surgery (Col), MRCS (Eng), MRCSEd) working at Lady Ridgeway Hospital and Asiri Central Hospital, Colombo. Specialist Anaesthetist Asitha Dassanayake (MBBS, MD) contributed his expertise to the surgery.
The cost of this surgery was covered through the Suraksha Insurance Plan provided by the Sri Lankan government, and the intervention of Asiri Central Hospital was a great relief to this child, who had to wait for a long time on the waiting list at Lady Ridgeway Children's Hospital, and especially to the child's parents, who were working hard to get the surgery done as soon as possible.
"We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Asiri Central Hospital for coming to our aid during this very difficult time. Our gratitude cannot be expressed in words," the parents said.
Commenting on the success of the surgery, Dr. Muhunthan said that this program is a great relief for patients who have to wait for a long time for surgery through the government health service, as it provides them with the opportunity to undergo surgery without delay. Dr. Muhunthan also said that although this surgery was the first congenital heart disease surgery performed at Asiri Central Hospital, it was very successful due to the skill of the experienced hospital staff.
Commenting on the vision of Asiri Health Group, Dr. Manjula Karunaratne said, “Asiri Health Group’s mission is to transform the lives of the Sri Lankan people by providing world-class healthcare services. We are delighted that this successful surgery, carried out in collaboration with the public sector, will open up a great opportunity to provide high-quality medical treatment to the needy in our country through this type of collaboration in the future. It will be a great strength to turn Asiri Health Group’s vision into a reality.”
Nihal Ratnayake, Chief Operating Officer of Asiri Central Hospital, said, “By being able to provide services such as congenital heart surgery, Asiri Central Hospital has had a great opportunity to save the precious lives of many Sri Lankan children. This can truly be described as a significant milestone in the journey of Asiri Central Hospital.”
Bhathiya Jayasinghe, Head of Group Business Development, Asiri Health Group, also added his comments, saying, “The first congenital heart surgery performed at Asiri Central Hospital is a prime example of the success of public-private partnership in the healthcare sector. Through this partnership, the patient and family members were able to undergo essential surgeries without incurring financial burdens, government hospitals like Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital were able to manage their waiting lists for essential surgeries properly, and Asiri Central Hospital was able to take the lead in performing this type of surgery using modern technology. In that sense, this surgery was a win-win for everyone. A huge effort was made to coordinate resources, streamline processes, and provide the necessary care to the pediatric patient quickly. But the success of the surgery is a great satisfaction for all those efforts. "It should be said that it will be given."
This first surgery at Asiri Central Hospital reflects the collaboration between the public and private sectors to overcome the challenges facing the country in terms of essential health services. This goes beyond the primary objective of healthcare to save lives and provide new hope to families in need. Combining excellence in healthcare with easy access, Asiri Central Hospital is committed to innovation, humanity and the good of society. With the continued operation of the congenital heart disease surgery program at Asiri Central Hospital, many children in need of treatment will have the opportunity to undergo the necessary surgeries/treatment without delay in the future and this is a prime example of the mission of Asiri Hospitals Group, led by Asiri Central Hospital, which is committed to making a positive difference in the Sri Lankan community.
