Northern Sarawak needs its own cardiac care unit, says Pujut rep

MIRI: The government is urged to consider setting up a specialised cardiac care unit here to cater to those in the northen part of the state.

Pujut assemblyman Dr Ting Tiong Choon, in making the call, said Miri Hospital urgently needs better cardiac care facilities as not many are able to afford costly treatment at private hospitals.

“Anyone who says otherwise (on the need for better cardiac care facilities) is taking Miri people for granted, and the state government should consider this proposal,” he said yesterday.

Dr Ting was responding to a Minister of Local Government and Housing Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian who, during the recent State Legislative Assembly sitting, said “the present cardiac facilities at the Sarawak Heart Centre in Kuching is still able to meet the needs for Sarawak”.

“We can’t depend on private hospitals to fulfi l the needs of northern Sarawak because they are costly, and besides, the (cardiac care) unit will complement the other services in Miri Hospital.”

He went on to claim that people in Miri are more likely to die if they suffer from a heart attack because Miri Hospital currently has no special unit or ward for acute cardiac care.

“There is no question that Sarawak Heart Centre in Kuching may be adequate to serve the population, but we must remember that Sarawak is different. We have far-to-reach areas which have very poor accessibility.”