Business Health

e-channelling benefits for NTB cardmembers

Nations Trust Bank PLC (NTB) recently announced the partnership with e channelling, thereby facilitating all American Express credit card members the ease and flexibility to channel and make an appointment with their doctors and consultants from the comfort of their home or office.

The newly launched online facility will provide American Express cardmembers access to over 600 Doctors at hospitals such Nawaloka, Durdans, Asiri, Oasis, Park, Ceymed, Southern, Healthy Life, Ninewells, Apollo and Golden Key hospital.

Cardmembers can log into www.echanneling.com and select the physician and hospital of their choice and make an appointment. The payment can be made through the American Express credit card.

Cardmembers may rest assured that each online booking will be confirmed in real time, followed by a confirmation, which may be produced as identification of booking.

Head of American Express at NTB PLC Priyantha Talwatte said, "We are pleased to offer our cardmembers the flexibility and ease to manage their day to day requirements through the online payment services provided by the American Express credit card."

Cardmembers may look forward to new benefits suited towards adding value to their life he said.

Nawaloka Hospital launches 'Health Awareness' calendar for 2008

Nawaloka Hospitals ventured into another CSR initiative with the launching of their calendar for the coming year.

"Our calendar for 2008 depicts a series of health related pictures which convey the message that we need to be health conscious at all times, and not merely when we are sick said Director Nawaloka Hospitals, Harshith Dharmadasa.

"We want to convey a definite message through our calendar this coming year, thus continuing our stance as a hospital which is very aware of its Corporate Social Responsibilities", he said.

Dharmadasa said that the idea of adding a social value to their calendar by awarding this project, namely that of executing health related drawings for the 2008 calendar to an art student instead of commissioning a reputed artist came from the Hospital's marketing team.

"We engaged the services of a third year under graduate who was studying Fine Arts at the University of Colombo and exhibiting his work during the weekend at the Vihara Maha Devi Park", said Dharmadasa.

"His earnings from whatever sales he made during the weekends helped facilitate his educational expenses, whilst enabling him to send home some money to his parents and we were very glad to be able to assist this young man", he said.

This under graduate was rewarded for his work on the Nawaloka calendar with an attractive cash prize as well as a certificate that was handed to him by Chairman Nawaloka Hospitals, Deshamanya H.K.Dharmadasa recently.

Another highlight of the Nawaloka calendar is the inclusion of the '2008 Almanac' for the first time in Sri Lanka and the indication of health awareness days as per the International Health Calendar.

"We feel it is our duty as a leader in the healthcare sector to promote awareness regarding major health issues that affect the general public.

In recent times Nawaloka Hospitals have conducted a series of CSR awareness programmes on a variety of important health issues such as Osteoporosis and Diabetes as well as Aids which have been extremely well received by the public", said Director / General Manager Nawaloka Hospitals, Professor Lal Chandrasena.

"As a responsible corporate entity, Nawaloka Hospitals will continue its mission by conducting similar public awareness programmes and health clinics in an effort to promote better amongst our people", he said.

He said that it was their intention to continue this initiative into the future by having an annual competition where aspiring artists from schools and universities island wide would be encouraged to submit their paintings depicting health related topics and issues.