A remote-controlled smart appliance called ‘Medi Mate’ developed by Navy’s Research and Development Unit in a bid to treat and test COVID-19 patients, allowing healthcare workers to remain at a safe distance from the highly infectious virus, was handed over for the use of Dr. Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital today.

This smart appliance which was developed by Thushara Kelum Wadasinghe, the Navy’s Research and Development Unit will also help healthcare workers to diagnose ailments, communicate with patients and dispense medicine and meals to them, without getting closer to the infected people.

As such, this innovative appliance will help protect doctors and healthcare workers from the highly contagious novel coronavirus, when they are dealing with COVID-19 patients. 

As a new feature, this remote-controlled gadgetry also has an automated nozzle which sprays a stream of sanitizing liquid to the hands of the patient, allowing him/her to sanitize the hands before touching any equipment or drugs placed on the device.

The Research and Development Unit of Sri Lanka Navy has also developed a disinfection chamber recently and similar chambers, with added features, have been set up at Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital and University Hospital KDU.