The first Joint Commission International-accredited hospital in Sri Lanka - Durdans Hospital - recently appointed veteran medical administrator Dr. Wimal Karandagoda as its Chief Operations Officer (COO) and Director Medical Services. 

Dr. Karandagoda, taking up his new position on January 1, 2016 said, “It is indeed a privilege and honour for me to take up these positions at a hospital that has become known for the quality of services and care it offers to its patients. 

Having trained in the fields of meticulous management of a hospital environment, I look forward to bringing my expertise to enhance the services being offered at Durdans. The hospital is well-equipped with high-skilled staff supported by the latest technology. It is my aim to make the best use of these resources to ultimately benefit every patient.

Dr. Karandagoda, a Senior Medical Administrator in Sri Lanka, obtained his MBBS in 1981 from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Peradeniya and Master of Medical Administration in 1996 from the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine at the University of Colombo. 

He is also a scholar of the Health Services Management Centre of the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, where he obtained his basic training in health planning and management in 1990. Furthermore, Dr. Karandagoda has been trained in Manila, the Philippines and Malaysia in 2003 and 2006, respectively as a Productivity Specialist organised by the Asian Productivity Organisation.

He counts for over 30 years of experience as a Senior Medical Administrator in the Health Ministry working as the Director of Teaching Hospitals, Regional and Provincial Director of Health Services and Director Policy Analysis and Development at the Health Ministry. Dr. Karandagoda also worked as the Director Medical Services of Lanka Hospitals since 2009.

During his tenure as the Director at the Castle Street Hospital for Women (Teaching) from 2000 – 2008, Dr. Karandagoda introduced Japanese housekeeping practices and the Kaizen approach and also implemented the systems approach for Total Quality Management. Both these endeavours were highly successful and have since then been adopted at many state and private hospitals around the island and abroad.

A visiting lecturer on quality management in some of the faculties of the universities of Sri Lanka, National Productivity Secretariat and Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration and the Directorate of Quality and Safety of the Health Ministry, Dr. Karandagoda has also conducted assignments as a short-term consultant on healthcare management for the World Health Organisation, World Bank and JICA. He is a key resource person for the Asia Africa Knowledge Co-creation Programme (JICA) on Healthcare Quality. Dr. Karandagoda is a founder and council member of the College of Medical Administrators of Sri Lanka.  

Commenting on this new appointment, Durdans Hospital Chairman Ajith E. Tudawe noted, “Durdans Hospital has in all spheres of its operations constantly strived for excellence. This is a passion that Dr. Karandagoda shares as well. He is known throughout the health sector for streamlining and bringing out the best in hospital offerings. We are indeed delighted to have him lead our team of medical service professionals.”