A cure for all ills

Remember the days you had to run around town, going to a number of pharmacies looking for one specific medicine, checking out many showrooms to buy fitness equipment or searching to find medical books? The Medical Mall situated in the former Donald’s building in Maradana, Colombo 10 is a one-stop-shop to cater to all your health care requirements.

The mall was opened on February 24, and its proud owners say it is Asia’s first medical mall. Speaking to The Sunday Times, Chairman of the Medical Mall, a part of the Harcourt Group of Companies, Ahamed Rheyas said that it was a dream come true.“It was my dream as a medical representative, to open up a medical mall.” When he heard that the Donald’s building in Maradana was up for sale, he thought this was the ideal place.

The Medical Mall offers pharmaceuticals, herbal remedies, neutraceuticals and health supplements, personal care, veterinary products, optometrist services, laboratory and diagnostics, dental care, e-channelling, patient aids, hospital furnishings, laboratory devices, surgical devices and disposables, medical books, baby care products, exercise equipment, a skin care centre, physiotherapy and orthopaedic equipment and electro medical equipment.

A pharmacy open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., an ‘information counter’ to provide instant and relevant information on health concerns, medicines, drug interactions, duration of treatment, natural remedies and a bulk order division which provides orders within 24 hours are some of the main features of the Medical Mall.

An extensive nutritional gallery houses all nutraceuticals, food supplements and health supplements. An exclusive counter will be dedicated to organic food and supplements. Sports nutritional products too will be available in the nutritional gallery which will be managed by a qualified nutritionist providing information on alternative medicines, herbal remedies, vitamins and minerals, diet, chronic diseases etc.

The Diabetic Centre at the Medical Mall offers products and accessories for diabetic patients, from diabetic monitoring equipments to food for diabetic patients. “A pharmacy or a medical mall should be clean, neat and have the best hygiene. The interior décor of the Medical Mall is of the best standard and the prices are economical and affordable,” says Mr. Rheyas.
Organised like a supermarket, the display enables customers to walk around and make their pick.

The Medi Book Shop is one of the important features of the mall. “Medical students, professionals and academics find it hard to get medical books as there is a dearth of medical books. More than 20,000 medical books are available here. Even now we see a huge number of medical students coming to purchase rare medical books,” says Mr. Rheyas.

A delivery service is provided for products purchased above Rs.1000 without any charge.
The mall also offers a loyalty privilege card for customers. Being a member of the Medical Mall brings you more benefits like VIP car parking and valet parking, discounts up to 15%, free home delivery anytime within the Colombo city limits, drive in pharmacy facility and free diabetic, cholesterol and blood pressure screening. Patients’ medical and prescription details will be stored in the data bank.

“This concept saves a lot of time as today’s people are busy and shopping for health care equipment is so stressful,” says Mr. Rheyas.

Complementing their services, a Nature VIP Beauty Salon will be opened on April 1.