By Sanjeevi Jayasuriya

eChannelling is a health care system that is similar in operation to an airline reservation system and it has many benefits, said Sidath Chandrasena, CEO, eChannelling Ltd., on Tuesday.

Speaking at the launch ceremony, he said that it is a difficult and time consuming task to channel a doctor for a person living far away from Colombo in the conventional way. "With the service we provide, this becomes an easy job and you are sure of getting an appointment in a few minutes", he said.

"We have invested Rs 70 to 80 million on this project", said Tony Weerasinghe, CEO/ Managing Director of Millennium Information Technologies (Pvt) Ltd. "This is truly an e-commerce project and it can help the poor, he said. Weerasinghe further said that the project is based on the concept of ‘central reservation system’ and the Company plans to make an initial public offering of eChannelling shares on the Colombo Stock Market shortly.

Explaining the procedure, Chandrasena said that any doctor at Durdans and Nawaloka hospitals can be channelled through 30 Sampath Bank branches under this scheme. "What you have to do is to walk up to any of these branches and make the appointment instead of having to go to hospital". A confirmed booking will be made instantly and payment collected, for which you will be issued a receipt that the hospital will readily accept, he said.

The appointments could be make through the internet and the eChanelling system will soon be extended to enable patients to make more bookings and payments for health care services through more banks, pharmacies, post offices and supermarkets.

eChannelling is a revolutionary IT joint venture service between Millennium IT and Ayojana Fund Management (Pvt) Ltd., with Suntel being the official telecommunication solutions provider.