Golden Key Eye and ENT hospital, a new dimension to healthcare sector

NEW PROJECT: The Golden Key Group of Ceylinco consolidated in another pioneering venture is setting-up Sri Lanka's first Super Specialty Eye and ENT Hospital; an idea mooted by its Chairman Dr. Lalith Kotelawala.

The Golden Key Group has already invested over Rs. 950 million in this hospital with the objective of providing the people of Sri Lanka and even the region with the most advanced, but affordable Super Specialty Eye and ENT care services.

This eleven storied state-of-the-art, Super Specialty Hospital with excellent facilities for patients and medical professionals, is located at Cotta Road, Rajagiriya and the first phase of the hospital will be opened to the public this month Deputy Chairman/ Chief Executive of the Golden Key Group, Khavan Perera said.

It is said that "people fear blindness more than death". Ironically, in Sri Lanka's healthcare system Eye and ENT care are two of the most neglected areas. Over the years, Sri Lankan society has witnessed a large population of Deaf and Blind people; two large state run Deaf and Blind schools in the country bears ample testimony to the true status of Eye and ENT care in the healthcare system.

The National Eye Hospital, Colombo is the only specialised Eye Hospital in the country to serve a population of 20 million. ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) too has never received adequate attention and there is no dedicated ENT hospital in Sri Lanka, despite the fact that ENT conditions are quite common among our population.

As a result people have to undergo tremendous hardship, especially in emergency situations without adequate facilities in both Eye and ENT services. Thus, a specialised Eye and ENT Hospital is long overdue in this country and this new hospital will endeavour to fill this void.

The hospital has a collaboration arrangement with the Lions Eye Institute of Perth, Australia, and will have a close working relationship with leading medical institutes in the region such as Singapore National Eye Centre, Tun Hussein Eye Hospital, Malaysia and the LV Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad, India.

According to the Medical Director of the Hospital Dr. Janaka Weeratunga, their new Super Specialty Hospital will provide a number of unique and innovative services, some for the first time in Sri Lanka under the guidance of its chief consultant eye surgeon, Dr. Saliya Pathirana.

Among the facilities provided are an Out Patient Department (OPD) managed by board certified Resident Consultant Eye and ENT Surgeons, 24 hour Accident and Emergency care for Eye and ENT and all types of Eye and ENT surgeries including innovative "Lasik" Surgery for refractive errors and "Cochlear Implants" for congenital hearing defects.

There will also be specialty clinics for cataract, diabetic, retinopathy, glaucoma, sleep apnea (snoring) and special clinics for children will be provided for the first time in Sri Lanka.

The hospital has five modern Operating Theatres.