By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 11: The Sarawak government continues to expand its network of Satellite Heart Centres with Sibu identified as the third destination following Bintulu and Miri to improve public access to quality cardiology services across Sarawak.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the first satellite centre is already operational in Bintulu, while Miri has been identified as the next location, with the building ready and awaiting installation of medical equipment, TVS reports.
He said next in line is Sibu, which will soon have its own Satellite Heart Centre. For Sibu, the Sarawak Heart Foundation has contributed over RM2 million to provide the second cardiac MRI machine in the State. The Sarawak government is just waiting for the building to be completed before installing the machine.
Dr Sim who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing and Local Government made the remarks while officiating the 1st Borneo Health Summit and the 41st Sarawak Health Conference held in Sibu yesterday.
He highlighted that not all MRI machines are capable of performing heart-specific scans, making the availability of such equipment crucial in enhancing cardiology services in Sarawak.
Commenting on the Bintulu Satellite Heart Centre, Dr Sim said it was made possible through a RM2.5 million upgrade of the catheterisation laboratory (cath lab).
With this upgrade, patients in Bintulu no longer need to travel to Kuching for procedures like angiograms or basic angioplasty. The satellite centre is expected to benefit over 300 patients annually, he added. —DayakDaily
