KUCHING: The Sarawak Heart Centre (SHC) has produced 45 cardiologists since its establishment.
Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said judging from the number of cardiologists produced, it means that doctors can be trained here locally.
“Since the setting up of SHC, apart from the treatment provided, we have produced 45 cardiologists.
“It shows that if you want to be trained as a cardiologist, you no longer need to go overseas but can be trained locally,” he said in a video message posted on his social media account today (Feb 6).
Dr Sim, who is also the Public Health, Housing, and Local Government Minister, added SHC had recently celebrated its 20th anniversary and would continue in its commitment to serve Sarawakians.
“Over the last 20 years, SHC (cardiology department) has treated more than 245,000 fellow Sarawakians, who unfortunately have heart diseases and there are also 5,000 of these patients treated at the heart-failure clinic,” he said.
He said more than 170,000 patients had undergone an echocardiogram (echo).
“In addition, more than 8,000 patients have been scanned with the Cardiac Computed Tomography (CT) machine, in which in terms of this service, SHC is the first public hospital to offer this form of scanning in Southeast Asia.
“Furthermore, there are more than 6,000 patients who have undergone a Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), where SCH is the first centre in the country to provide Cardiac MRI,” he said.
Dr Sim added more than 20,000 patients were also treated using intervention procedures.
“I want to thank the staff of SHC as well as the patients for trusting us,” he said.
