By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Apr 10: Sarawak has strengthened its cardiovascular diagnostic capabilities with Sibu Hospital becoming the first hospital in Malaysia to be equipped with a nearly helium-free cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system, improving access to specialist care for patients in central Sarawak.
In a Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) report, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian said this marks a significant shift from conventional MRI systems, which typically require large amounts of helium for their magnet systems.
“This places Sibu Hospital at a higher level, as the technology is significantly more advanced than standard MRI systems,” he said after officiating the launch of the machine at Sibu Hospital on Friday.
The acquisition was made possible through a strategic collaboration involving the Sarawak Heart Foundation, the Ministry of Health, 20 donors, and Philips Malaysia.
The initiative began with contributions from 20 donors who raised RM2.02 million, while the Ministry of Health also allocated RM1.2 million to upgrade facilities to accommodate the machine.
With the availability of this technology, patients no longer need to travel to Kuching for cardiac scans, reducing travel burdens and enabling faster access to treatment.
Meanwhile, Dr Sim, who is also Minister of Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, said cardiac MRI allows doctors to assess blood flow to the heart and detect blocked arteries more accurately.
He added that the technology can also determine whether heart muscle tissue remains viable or has been damaged, which is a critical factor in deciding the effectiveness of further treatments such as bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty, or stent placement.
The machine is also capable of performing various other scans, including brain and whole-body imaging, further strengthening Sibu Hospital’s diagnostic capabilities as one of Sarawak’s key medical hubs. — DayakDaily
