Lanka Hospitals receives SL’S first-ever int’l medical tourism certification

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).

Another prestigious addition to its host of international and local quality awards, the MTQUA reinforces the service excellence and utmost patient care endorsed to Lanka Hospitals by the Joint Commission International Association (JCIA) of the USA.

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 well-being and outcomes.

Hospitals, clinics and agencies in more than 20 countries are certified by the 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,” MTQUA President Julie Munro said in awarding the 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. 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.

The MTQUA, 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 the MTQUA is the only global certification programme for hospitals, clinics, agencies and related services and providers.