The multi award winning Lanka Hospitals has become Sri Lanka’s first healthcare provider to achieve international medical tourism certification from the US-based Medical Travel Quality Alliance (MTQUA).
Lanka Hospitals has undergone an evaluation for several months that included in-depth interviews and a formal review of its operations, processes and procedures against international standards of quality in 10 non-clinical areas that directly influence a medical traveller’s wellbeing and outcomes. Hospitals, clinics and agencies in more than 20 countries are certified by MTQUA. Fortis Hospital India, Gleneagles Hospital Singapore and Bumrungrad Hospital Thailand are some of the best known international hospitals to have achieved the MTQUA certification.
“We have been most impressed with Lanka Hospitals’ medical and support teams during the certification process,” said MTQUA President Julie Munro, in awarding medical tourism certification for the hospital. “It is ready to take leadership in helping move forward Sri Lanka’s medical tourism sector,” she added.
The MTQUA evaluation team reviewed how the hospital manages a medical tourist through the inquiry process, intake and treatment, and care management after discharge. It reported on the hospital’s website and internet marketing, communications procedures, privacy and security measures, multicultural sensitivity, International Patient Services department, care support services and certain operations and business procedures that influence the quality of treatment and care a medical tourist receives.
“Sri Lanka being a tourist destination has now embarked on a journey in attracting tourism to earn foreign revenue. Lanka Hospitals is fulfilling all international standards because we want to place the hospital and country among the top medical tourism providers,” said Lanka Hospitals PLC Chairman Dr. Sarath Paranavitane.
“Medical tourists are not ordinary patients, and they are not typical tourists,” added Munro. “When they are in a strange land, away from family and community, they need to know they will get an international standard of care at the destination,” said Munro.
Medical Travel Quality Alliance, an independent international organisation founded in 2009 to promote the special safety and quality needs in treatment and care of medical tourists, publishes the Top 10 World’s Best Hospitals For Medical Tourists and Best Practices in Medical Tourism. Medical tourism certification from MTQUA is the only global certification program for hospitals, clinics, agencies, and related services and providers.
International Patient Care Centre (IPCS) of Lanka Hospitals is a dedicated, specialised unit of designed to provide personalised and the best medical care for international patients. In the delivery of care to these patients, the unit ensures that there will be an appropriate interdisciplinary plan of action for each patient, a seamless clinical logistic arrangement provided, a comprehensive patient and family education plan meted out and a clear communication with the patient and his/her family.
Sri Lanka Travel Feneteko