Number of heart specialists to be increased – Lee

PETALING JAYA: The Health Ministry will increase the number of heart specialists to ensure the best service is given to patients, said its deputy minister Dr Lee Boon Chye.

He said at present, there were only between 30 to 40 cardiologists in government hospitals, not enough to treat the increasing number of heart patients.

He said the ministry needed to have between 120 and 150 heart specialists serving in nine heart treatment centres throughout the country.

“The ministry has provided various types of training and seminars specifically for doctors so that they will be interested to become heart experts.

“After the training, they will be based at heart treatment centres such as Serdang Hospital, and we believe that the training and opportunities will produce more heart specialists,” he said after launching the 9th National Acute Myocardial Infarction Course (NAMIC) organised by the Cardiology Department in Serdang Hospital yesterday.

Dr Lee said the number of heart disease cases in the country was increasing, with senior citizens making up the most cases.

He added that equipment and facilities in heart treatment centres in the country were at a satisfactory level, but could still be improved.

“The ministry will ensure that there will be allocation for the supply of apparatus so that proper treatment can be given quickly,” he said. - Bernama