NAWALOKA HOSPITALS
Nawaloka Hospitals entered the healthcare sector in 1985. As a pioneer in popularising the private healthcaresystem in Sri Lanka, the hospital felt it was destined to offer superior healthcare services in a pleasant and homely environment. Positioned as a premier multi-speciality hospital, it was designed to replicate the advanced medical technology and care offered by leading healthcare facilities around the world, and ensure that these servicesare available locally. Set to become a centre of excellence in high-tech diagnostic and curativefacilities, it is driven by a vision of becoming the hospital of tomorrow.
Q: How important is corporate respect where the healthcare sector is concerned?
A: The healthcare product is intangible and depends on the quality of service offered. A respected hospital attracts skilled and expert consultants. It’s in their best interest to offer their time and expertise to an establishment that’s famed for the corporate respect it has garnered.
The prestige earned due to its enlisted expert panel of physicians, surgeons, and nursing and support staff affirms that the hospital is equipped with professional expertise to take care of its patients. Given this scenario, Nawaloka Hospitals’ expertise attracts the trust and confidence of patients.
Q: How would you translate what is noted above into the medium of investment prospects?
A: Corporate respect is an indication of a good investment opportunity. Potential investors will be keen to invest, considering that the establishment is held in high regard among the general public.
Furthermore, a good reputation for following best practices and an impressive corporate image enable us to recruit the talent needed to take the organisation forward.
Q: Can corporate respect help organisations endure the pandemic, in your opinion?
A: Yes, of course. The initial stages of the pandemic saw the emergence of fear against a backdrop of rumours about the possibility that the virus could spread when visiting hospitals for treatment.
As a result, hospitals adopted measures to communicate the safety measures implemented by them to put the prevailing uncertainty to rest. However, communication is effective only when the recipient has the trust and confidence to accept the core message.
A hospital cannot earn acceptance overnight – this is gained from the cultivation of trust and respect over a period of time.
Nawaloka Hospitals has operated four intermediary care centres that have treated over 5,000 COVID-19 patients. This is testimony to the community acceptance earned by the hospital.
Q: What role can corporates play in uplifting Sri Lanka’s global image – and are there potential new avenues to reach this goal?
A: Sri Lanka is known globally for its tea and beautiful beaches. In retrospect, we have so much more to offer. As such, companies should be able to market these resources in a sustainable manner to ensure longevity of investments.
Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has displayed promising prospects recently. On the other hand, the local healthcare sector is on a par with many countries in terms of medical practices and global healthcare standards – viz. the Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation earned by Nawaloka Hospitals last year.
Combining the nation’s greatest strengths could lead to the creation of an interesting and lucrative business model.
Countries are keen to capitalise on medical tourism as an avenue to generate foreign income. Asian nations such as Singapore, India and Thailand have been pitched as ideal destinations in this sphere.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka wields spectacular advanced technologies and is home to world-class consultants. Furthermore, our services are more affordable compared to the rest of the region.
We can play a pioneering role in uplifting the country’s image as a haven for medical tourism. Sri Lanka could be positioned as an ideal destination to visit and for treating medical emergencies – and of course, to indulge in the island’s scenic beauty during recuperation.
Q: How important are stakeholder perceptions, in your view?
A: Positive perceptions are vital for any corporate to develop and persist in a competitive business environment. Stakeholders directly influence the reputation, image and revenue of any business through their decisions, incomes, taxes and the restriction of resources.
Nawaloka Hospitals says it looks to garner corporate respect by adopting a holistic approach that creates positive stakeholder perceptions. The group also hopes to capitalise on its modern technologies and expertise to live up to its promises, and work towards helping the country position itself as an ideal destination and a paradise for medical tourism.
Deputy Chairman
