Navy to export Thalassemia Drug Infusion System

Sandasen MARASINGHE

The Navy is seeking the opportunity of exporting a low cost Thalassemia Drug Infusion System produced by the Navy to extend its Naval Social Responsibility beyond the shores of Sri Lanka by providing the system at a very low price, said Navy Commander Vice Admiral Somathilake Dissanayake.

He made this observation delivering the welcome speech at the ceremony held to donate the second consignment of low cost Thalassemia Drug Infusion Systems produced by the Navy for patients and 16 hospitals on Wednesday evening where First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa participated as Chief Guest.

The Navy Commander said Health Ministry officials informed him that there was a big demand for these Thalassemia Drug Infusion Systems and Sri Lanka could export this at a low cost. He added that as soon as the demand in Sri Lanka was met within a short period, the Navy will reach out to those countries which would benefit immensely since this will be exported at a very low rate compared to the existing rates in the market. Commander Dissanayake stated that the Research and Development Unit of the Sri Lanka Navy that designed and produced the Thalassemia Drug Infusion System a few years ago has not stopped its research but continues to design a Photo Therapy System and Syringe Pump.

The Photo Therapy System which is fully digitally controlled is already tested and results are successful. It has a multifunction display as well. Navy Commander Dissanayake added that this system is not available in most of the hospitals outside the main cities in the country. He added the price of an imported unit may be around Rs 175,000 while the the Syringe Pump which is also very expensive and used at wards and Intensive Care Units in hospitals is already designed at a very low cost. He also added that the imported system costs around Rs 500,000, but, the Navy product costs Rs 45,000.

The Navy Commander further stated that all such projects of the Navy are encouraged by First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa. She has long connections with the Navy not only because her son is attached to the Navy, but, her father too was a Navy officer. He also stated that the Navy is proud that President Mahinda Rajapaksa and First Lady Shiranthi Rajapaksa offered one of their sons to the Navy at a time when the operations were in progress to serve the nation.