New invasive cardiology labs and upgraded equipment aim to reduce waiting times for critical heart procedures by 2027.
PETALING JAYA: Heart patients can expect shorter waiting times as the Health Ministry rolls out a series of short and medium-term initiatives to expand capacity, improve infrastructure and upgrade equipment at invasive cardiology laboratories (ICLs).
Health Deputy Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib told the Dewan Negara yesterday that new ICLs at Malacca, Miri, Sibu and Tawau hospitals are expected to be operational by 2027.
“Two additional ICLs at Sultan Idris Shah Hospital, Serdang, are slated for 2028, complementing the seven existing ICLs, while equipment in 10 hospitals with cardiology services will be replaced under the Third Rolling Plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan.
“The upgrades aim to ensure the current 26 ICLs provide safe, high-quality angiogram and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) treatments,” she said.
Hanifah Hajar was responding to a question from Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar on steps taken to tackle long waiting times for heart patients needing angiograms and coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries as well as the ministry’s plans to enhance infrastructure, hospital facilities, manpower, specialists, and equipment.
She highlighted plans to expand cardiothoracic operating theatres, optimise cardiac intensive care units (CICUs) and replace high-tech equipment to gradually increase treatment capacity and reduce reliance on outsourcing.
“On workforce development, the ministry is strengthening the parallel pathway for cardiothoracic surgery, which has been producing graduates since 2022, while Universiti Teknologi Mara will produce its first graduates in 2027.
“We project 45 new cardiothoracic surgeons by 2027, nearing the target of 46 by 2028,” she said.
Hanifah Hajar also emphasised that intake for cardiology subspecialty training has doubled from 20 to 40 slots annually this year, with the total number of cardiologists expected to reach 200 by 2030, up from 61 currently, factoring in attrition.
She also said the ministry is encouraging more nurses and allied health staff to pursue basic and advanced diploma post-training to enhance the competence of cardiac service support teams.
Hanifah Hajar said that last year, the outsourcing of heart cases to the National Heart Institute involved 2,894 angiogram cases, 2,137 PCI procedures, 770 heart bypass surgeries, and 132 valve surgeries.
She said since 2024, 2,682 angiogram cases, 1,758 PCI cases, and 900 heart bypass surgeries have been outsourced to private and university hospitals under the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme.
