KUCHING: Sarawak has reached another historic milestone in healthcare with Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) successfully performing the first-ever vagus nerve stimulation and anterior temporal lobectomy surgery for medically refractory epilepsy in East Malaysia and on the island of Borneo.
The breakthrough procedure, conducted on October 23, marks a new era of hope for epilepsy patients in Sarawak, who will no longer need to travel to Kuala Lumpur for such specialised treatment.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian commended the Department of Neurosurgery of SGH for achieving another medical first, describing it as a testament to the hospital’s expertise, teamwork and perseverance despite limited resources.
“This milestone signifies more than just medical progress; it represents Sarawak’s growing capability in providing advanced neurosurgical care for its people,” he said in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Dr Sim expressed his heartfelt congratulations and gratitude to the multidisciplinary team involved in the procedure, which included neurosurgeons Dr Lim Swee San and Dr Alyssa Ooi, neurologist Dr Linda Then Yee Yen, neuro-anaesthetist Dr Wong Li Mei, neuropsychiatrist Dr Chhoa Keng Hong as well as the radiology, nursing and assistant medical officer teams.
He also acknowledged the contribution of University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) experts, including Professor Dr Vairavan Narayanan, Professor Dr Lim Kheng Seang, and Associate Professor Dr Fong Si Lei, for their collaboration and friendship.
According to Dr Sim, the achievement was made possible under the leadership of Dr Donald Liew Ngian San, head of Neurosurgery at SGH, together with his predecessor, Dr Albert Wong Sii Hieng, and SGH director, Dr Ngian Hie Ung, who provided steadfast support for the team’s groundbreaking work.
Despite SGH’s accomplishments, Dr Sim noted that the hospital continued to face significant challenges.
With a 1,000-bed capacity, SGH operates with RM824 million in annual funding from the Health Ministry, far below the RM4.4 billion annual budget of the Royal Brisbane Hospital in Australia, which has similar capacity.
He highlighted ongoing issues of staff shortages, revealing that SGH had at least 50 vacant medical officer posts and required an additional 4,000 staff to alleviate burnout among its current 5,000-strong workforce.
Dr Sim reiterated his commitment to continue advocating for Sarawak’s health autonomy under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), a cause he had championed with four Health Ministers since 2020.
He credited the success of SGH’s medical achievements to the shared values and dedication of Sarawakian healthcare professionals who remained committed to nation-building, resilience and service “beyond the call of duty”.
Expressing personal pride, Dr Sim said it was deeply fulfilling to witness the vision he once shared with Dr Liew in the 1990s to uplift Sarawak’s medical standards finally become a reality after more than 20 years.
“The least we can do is to recognise and thank every member of the team who made Sarawak proud even from the jungles of Borneo,” he said while wishing the patient a speedy recovery and an epilepsy-free life.
