After studying economics at Northeastern University in Boston, Devin Ambalangodage began his career in HR at Reebok’s headquarters before experiencing a series of career transitions that ultimately led him to found Vida Medical, a specialized healthcare clinic in Colombo. His journey took him from the footwear industry to the American food and beverage industry, joining Drinkworks, a joint venture between Anheuser-Busch and Keurig Dr Pepper, before a personal experience reshaped his career path.
It was his grandmother’s battle with old age, that made Ambalangodage aware of the gaps in Sri Lanka’s healthcare system. His family’s struggle to find adequate home care inspired him to explore opportunities in the sector, with encouragement from his father, Eric Ambalangodage. This led to the creation of Vida Medical—a service focused on improving in-home healthcare quality in Colombo.
At Vida Medical, a dedicated team of medical professionals, nurses, and support staff work together to provide high-quality, patient-focused healthcare. With a strong emphasis on flexibility, Vida Medical offers patients convenient access to appointments, ensuring they can meet with doctors, nutritionists, and healthcare professionals without long waits.
Offering fast, effective, and affordable care for non-life-threatening illnesses, Vida Medical is designed to prioritize the patient experience. Most patients are seen, treated, and discharged within 60 minutes, allowing for efficient and seamless medical care that aligns with their busy lives.
“I wanted a young team with international exposure—professionals who had studied abroad and understood Western healthcare systems,” Ambalangodage, Managing Director of Vida Medical, explains. He built Vida Medical from the ground up, starting with just an idea on a whiteboard. “Dr Chandana Galappatti joining as our medical director was a huge step forward in shaping our clinic.”
Vida Medical was designed to address key healthcare gaps, starting with punctuality—a common issue in Sri Lanka, where long waits are typical. “We knew that wouldn’t work for our niche, high-end clientele in Colombo. Our patients have busy schedules, so we made sure our doctors were on time for every appointment,” says Ambalangodage. “That’s how we positioned ourselves as Colombo’s premier clinic, from the look of our facility to the quality of care.”
In addition to in-clinic services, Vida Medical specializes in in-home visits for the elderly, offering a range of medical healthcare services like blood work, ECGs, and IV treatments in the comfort of a patient’s home, and emergency ambulance transfers. “This was always part of our plan to deliver superior and assuring healthcare services in an environment of comfort in our clinic or patients’ homes. The feedback has been great. We’ve expanded into ambulance services and medical transfers, even handling high-profile air transfers and international medical repatriations,” Ambalangodage adds.
For Vida Medical, patient satisfaction is paramount. “We want people to feel at ease the moment they walk in. From the calming music to the uncluttered layout, we’ve created a space where patients feel they’re in safe hands.”
Managing over 550 appointments a month, Ambalangodage emphasizes the importance of maintaining quality as demand grows. “Many organizations struggle to maintain quality as they expand, but that’s something we are vigilant about. Our team knows that the standard of care can never drop.”
Ambalangodage credits much of Vida’s success to the culture they’ve built. “We’ve stressed the importance of our doctors being punctual. They rarely get late for appointments and when they do, they apologize to patients. This accountability and respect for others’ time is key to our culture”. Drawing from his U.S. corporate experience, particularly at Reebok, Ambalangodage fosters a positive, engaging workplace where people feel valued. “For many of our young doctors, this is new. By offering them a sense of belonging and fulfilment, we’ve been able to retain talented professionals. Sure, monetary rewards are important, but a sense of purpose matters more.”
Looking ahead, Vida Medical is exploring medical tourism as a growth strategy, recognizing Sri Lanka’s untapped potential in this sector. “Countries like Turkey have shown how successful medical tourism can be, and we want to position Vida as a leader in this space. We’ve already attracted foreign patients through word of mouth and strong online reviews. Our marketing and SEO teams have been instrumental in this,” Ambalangodage explains.
Vida’s model integrates hospitality into healthcare. “We want patients to feel attended to emotionally, not just medically. In Sri Lanka’s healthcare system, the personal touch is often missing, but we aim to lead the change,” says Ambalangodage.
Looking to the future, Vida Medical is planning to expand nationwide, starting with Jaffna, where there’s a pressing need for private healthcare, especially given the ageing population. Down south, the clinic aims to cater to foreigners and expats. “We’re also exploring retirement communities as a way to allow people to retire in Sri Lanka, contributing to the local economy.”
“Healthcare and hospitality are intertwined,” Ambalangodage concludes. “Being kind to people is at the heart of it all. While we receive a lot of positive feedback, we’re always open to constructive criticism because there’s always room for growth.”