A lifesaving procedure, kidney transplant surgery is the process of transplanting a healthy kidney from a living or deceased donor into a patient whose kidneys no longer function properly.
A felicitation ceremony in honor of the pioneers of Nephrology in Sri Lanka was hosted by Nawaloka Hospitals PLC on June 28, 2024, at the hospital premises.
Senior medical professionals representing Nephrologists - Dr. A L M Nazar, Dr. Mathu Selvarajah, Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Dr. Anura Hewageegana, Dr. Sanjaya Heiyanthuduwa, Dr. Anupama De Silva, Dr. Chinthana Galahitiyawa, Dr. Rushdie Nizam and Prof. Eranga Wijewickrama and Surgeons - Prof. Mandika Wijeratne, Dr. Lalitha Piyarisi, Dr. Ruwan Fonseka, Dr. Daminda Rajamanthri, Dr. Nalaka Gunawansa, Dr. Ranjuka Obeysiri, Prof. Rezni Cassim, Dr. Niroshan Atulugama, and Dr. Kumaradasan Umashanka graced the occasion.
Other dignitaries included Anesthesiologists- Prof. Anuja Abeydeera, Dr. Vihara Dassanayake, Dr. Vinodini Wanigasekera, Dr. Jayathi Subasinghe, Dr. Lakshman Dissanayake, Dr. S K Sharma, Dr. Sugunadewan, Chairman of Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, and other senior hospital medical staff.
While paying tribute to the three frontiers, Prof Rezvi Sheriff, Prof. Sheriffdeen, and Prof. Geri Jayasekera in pioneering the first Kidney Transplant surgery in Sri Lanka, Chairman of Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa further noted that the very first kidney transplant surgery in Sri Lanka was conducted at Ratnams Hospital on October 1, 1985.
“In 1987, two years after Nawaloka Hospital was inaugurated, the same medical team performed the first transplant at Nawaloka Hospital.
Henceforth, Kidney Transplants were done regularly until 2012, under the pioneering leadership of this trio of surgeons and nephrologists at the Nawaloka Hospitals.
A modern era of leadership began in 2012 comprising a new team led by Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Prof. Mandika Wijeratne, et al.
This team performed their first surgery at Nawaloka Hospital on June 1, 2012.
Coincidentally, the 500th kidney transplant surgery was also performed by the same team” Dr. Dharmadasa added.
With state-of-the-art equipment designed to cater to the exclusive needs of patients with kidney failure, Nawaloka Hospitals has come a long way in delivering tertiary healthcare services tailored to meet individual patient care needs.
Facilitated with a designated ward equipped with 3 beds and specialized kidney transplant ICU facilities established in 2012, and a dedicated team of trained nursing and healthcare personnel, the Nawaloka Kidney Transplant Unit bears testimony to the plethora of services it has to offer for potential donors and patients diagnosed with renal failure.
After 2012, kidney transplants were regularised by the Ministry of Health under the Tissue Transplant Act No. 48 with the Ethical Committees.
As authenticated by the Ministry of Health, Nawaloka Hospital has been instrumental in performing 542 Kidney Transplants to date from 2012 - June 2024.
Going beyond the commitment to nephrology care, Nawaloka Hospitals also identifies the significance of mental health, which is a quintessential element in determining the success rates of Kidney Transplant Surgeries. Therefore, the need to provide psychiatric counselling pre- and post-surgery to donors and patients alike is crucial to sustain and ensure a 'healthy mind in a healthy body', while also enabling a smooth transition from post-surgery back to normalcy.
Nawaloka Hospitals prides itself on being a professionally qualified body equipped with a competent Kidney Transplant Team, comprising a dedicated and leading team of Sri Lankan Consultants, inclusive of Vascular Transplant Surgeons, Nephrologists, Anaesthetists, Physicians, Radiologists, Psychiatrists, Transfusion Specialists, Dietitians and Physiotherapists.
Our latest milestone in achieving 500 successful Kidney Transplant Surgeries bears testimony to the hard work and stringent health guidelines followed by our medical staff, which have borne fruition today by giving many aspiring patients a new lease on life.
"We are honored and humbled to achieve a new milestone in healthcare, following the successful completion of 500 Kidney Transplant Surgeries.
Despite a hectic schedule, our medical staff work tirelessly to ensure the welfare of their patients and engage in a very noble service.
It is moments like this that give true meaning to their meticulous efforts when hard work finally pays off, and we see the beaming faces of our patients who are on the road to recovery" Dr. Dharmadasa added.
Elucidating that the forerunner to Kidney Transplants is Dialysis, Executive Director and General Manager at Nawaloka Hospitals PLC Prof. Lal Gotabhaya Chandrasena stated that any designated agents or branded Dialysis machines were not available in the past.
However, there was one Dialysis Unit in Cotta Road, Borella in 1984, owned by Dr. Ramachandran, a renowned physician in Sri Lanka.
“One day, Dr. Ramachandran called us and informed us that he wanted to give up his private dialysis service. Following a visit to the facility by the Chairman and me, the 06 units were purchased in the mid-90s.
This was our first dedicated dialysis unit. Later, a modern technology dialysis unit with a RO Pure Water Plant was opened in the private sector at Nawaloka Hospitals, on May 18, 2004.
During this process, Nawaloka Hospitals also contributed in a small way to the Scientific literature on Nephrology back in 2008.
We are happy to say that by 2004 we had built a complete Nephrology Unit equipped with a modern dedicated 3-bed ICU for kidney transplant, a modern technology dialysis unit laboratory, and theatre facilities.
The Nephrology Unit is run by skilled and specially trained consultants who have returned following foreign medical training.
This is our story of kidney transplants. The Management is committed to embracing new technology and expertise to advance our patient care in the future too” Prof. Chandrasena stated.
“As pioneers of modern medical technology since its inception, in the previous month alone Nawaloka Hospitals has invested over USD 3 million to upgrade the Radiology Department with the latest scanners supported by Artificial Intelligence, deep intelligence, and deep learning technology, the latest 640 slice heart scanner, MRI super scanner, AI 160 slice CT scanner, and 6 ultrasound scanners.
While the equipment is expected to arrive within 2 months, this initiative will provide Nawaloka Hospital with the best Radiology Department in the private sector.
Finally, thank you to all who have contributed to our success story in Nephrology” Prof. Chandrasena added.
Nawaloka Hospitals was at the forefront of introducing the first-ever CT and MRI scanner to Sri Lanka in 1987 and 1995 respectively - long before the equipment was installed in Government hospitals.
While the hospital has taken strides in installing the very first Cath lab in the private sector, the first CABG was also performed at the Nawaloka Hospital in 1994.
The hospital also performed four liver transplant surgeries in 2012.
Furthermore, Nawaloka Hospitals was instrumental in carrying out the first lung transplant surgery in Sri Lanka in 2011 with the assistance of the Japanese medical team from Yokohama University.
All Kidney Transplant Surgeries are carried out only with the prior approval of the Ethical Review Committee and the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka.
Nawaloka Hospitals takes pride in adhering to all formalities outlined in the Government regulations and maintaining stringent healthcare standards in line with global best practices, to deliver an optimum service to its valued patients and their families.
We are happy that we have been a part of changing 500 patients' lives and their families for the betterment.
Photo caption from left to right: Prof. Rezni Cassim, Deshamanya Prof. A H Sheriffdeen, Dr. A L M Nazar, Dr. Nalaka Gunawansa, Dr. Rushika Lanerolle, Chairman Dr. Jayantha Dharmadasa, Vidya Jyothi Prof. Lal Chandrasena. (Vidya Jyothi Prof. Rezvi Sheriff not present in this image)