Beyond Borders: Insights from One of the World’s Largest Pediatric Hospitals
By Samir Gouin
With the support of the Joseph I. Wolfsdorf Fund for Global Child Health, I was fortunate to spend three weeks at one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the world – Lady Ridgeway – located in the capital city of Sri Lanka, Colombo. Sri Lanka's health system is a dual public-private model, with free healthcare services provided through a public network. As Lady Ridgeway serves as the national pediatric referral center, it provides care to children from across the country. I got to experience many parts of the hospital from the intensive care units, emergency department, and wards to subspeciality clinics. Through the guidance and mentorship I received, I learned about many medical conditions not common in Canada and broadened my understanding of how social determinants of health and environmental factors intersect with pediatric care. In this photo essay, I share some of the moments I spent and insights I gained at Lady Ridgeway.
The front entrance of Lady Ridgeway Hospital, a facility with over 1,200 beds. Upon arrival to the emergency department, patients are immediately triaged into three categories based on medical urgency. Stable patients are often directed straight to specialty clinics, bypassing additional wait times in the emergency department. This streamlined triage system is essential for managing the high patient volume and ensuring timely care.
There are often 40-90 admissions per day! As such, space on the wards is used efficiently and separate rooms are reserved for those with specific medical circumstances.
During my first week, I met a young boy wearing a cochlear implant, a device I also use. Despite a language barrier, we connected, sharing stories about living with hearing loss. His mother, who had never met another person with a cochlear implant, expressed joy and relief seeing me pursue my interests and develop strong spoken language skills. This moment highlighted the power of representation and personal connection.
Most of the treatments and diagnostic modalities were very similar to those in Canada, albeit snake venom antiserum was never kept too far! While rarer in the urban centers, there are several poisonous snakes in Sri Lanka and this antiserum treats four types of venom. Much of the medical documentation was paper-based and plain-film X-rays were often analyzed directly.
A snapshot with new friends after an academic half-day session (left-to-right: Desh, me, Sandali J. and Sandali A.).
Sustainability takes center stage, with reusability embedded into the hospital’s daily practices.
A cheerful toy vendor stationed outside the hospital.
Samir Gouin
is a fourth-year medical student at McGill University. He was a Global Health Scholar in 2021 when he worked on the Children’s Worlds Survey with Dr. Ruiz-Casares. He has also worked as an editor for the MJGH and Perspectives. He hopes to continue learning about children’s health worldwide and to integrate advocacy and research into his future practice.