by DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 26: Bintulu Hospital is now the second public hospital in Sarawak to own a Catheterisation Laboratory (cath lab), making it easier for cardiac patients in the area to receive treatment without having to be referred to the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kuching.
According to news report by the Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), Sarawak Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said this facility is an important achievement in increasing access to cardiology treatment in the State.
The first cath lab in Sarawak was previously located at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) before being moved to the Sarawak Heart Centre.
“Bintulu Hospital is currently the second public hospital in the State to have this facility, making it an important achievement in cardiology services in Sarawak.
“With this cath lab, patients no longer need to be referred to the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kuching.
“If someone suffers a heart attack or a blocked artery, treatment can be administered directly here,” he said during an official visit to the Catheterisation Laboratory at Bintulu Hospital.
Dr Sim further stressed the importance of cath labs in the treatment of cardiac patients, especially in cases where blood flow is still blocked despite medication being prescribed to thin the blood.
“What is more important now is that we have successfully developed at least two cardiology treatment centres with the latest technology,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Heart Centre consultant cardiologist and head of Department Dr Ong Tiong Kiam stated that the Bintulu Hospital cath lab functions as a mini satellite centre of the Sarawak Heart Centre which will increase the heart treatment capacity in the central zone of Sarawak.
The upgrade of the radiology laboratory to the cath lab is the result of fundraising more than RM2 million through donations by Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (Petros) and Press Metal through the Sarawak Heart Foundation.
Also present during the visit was the Director of Bintulu Hospital, Dr. Suzalinna Sulaiman. – DayakDaily
