KUCHING: The Sarawak Heart Centre (PJS) has recorded its largest-ever intake of first-year cardiology fellows, with six medical specialists beginning subspecialty training at the centre this year.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the intake marked a significant milestone in the centre’s 25-year history, strengthening Sarawak’s pool of locally trained cardiologists amid growing demand for cardiac services.
He said all six fellows were drawn from hospitals in Sarawak, including two Sarawakians and four doctors from other states who had served in Sarawak for more than 10 years.
“For the first time in 25 years of PJS, six first-year cardiology fellows (general medical specialists who have started training in cardiology subspecialty), the biggest ever number of specialists in one year, started their cardiology training in PJS,” he said in a Facebook post recently.
The six fellows are Dr James Lee, originally from Kuala Lumpur and transferred from Sarawak General Hospital (SGH); Dr Karen Lai, originally from Sibu and transferred from Hospital Sarikei; Dr Tan Ka Shing, originally from Johor Bahru and transferred from Hospital Sibu; Dr Alex Koh, originally from Kuala Lumpur and transferred from Hospital Simanggang; Dr Kevin Wong, originally from Sibu and transferred from Hospital Sibu; and Dr Lua Afshera, originally from Ipoh and transferred from Hospital Miri.
Dr Sim said the development was timely as Malaysia currently has only about 400 cardiologists serving a population of 34 million, with only about 20 cardiologists, from both the public and private sectors, based in Sarawak.
“With aging, we definitely need a lot more cardiologists for the number one disease burden in Malaysia,” he said.
He added that training a cardiologist takes a minimum of three years, making the latest intake important in ensuring Sarawak has sufficient specialists to support the planned expansion of cardiac services.
Dr Sim said the additional manpower at PJS would also allow cardiac specialists and consultant cardiologists to undertake visiting duties at the Bintulu Satellite Heart Centre.
He noted that delays in the Sibu and Miri Satellite Heart Centres had inadvertently provided additional time to train more cardiologists before the facilities became fully operational.
“Otherwise, we will be in a situation of having completed infrastructure but no locally-based resident cardiologists other than visiting cardiologists,” he said.
Dr Sim expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Health (MoH) leadership for its support in expanding cardiology specialist training, which has enabled fellows to commence subspecialty training at 10 MoH heart centres nationwide this year.
He also acknowledged MoH chief consultant cardiologist Datuk Dr Liew Houng Bang for his efforts in coordinating the programme and facilitating the increased intake of cardiology fellows.
