14 September 2012 | last updated at 12:53AM
Free treatment in Taipei for poor heart patients
PUTRAJAYA: Poor people suffering from acute heart disease can apply for medical treatment from the Taipei Medical University Hospital (TMUH) in Taiwan.
A collaboration between Social Care Foundation Malaysia (SCFM) and the hospital allows heart patients, who are on a long waiting list for the operation, to seek treatment with referral letters from their attending doctors.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the foundation and the Taiwanese university hospital yesterday, said it was an important milestone for the country.
"The government is happy that Taipei Medical University Hospital is offering its services free of charge to our patients," he said at a press conference.
"This move will help us reduce the number of heart patients sent abroad for surgery because our government has been doing so in the past to reduce congestion and waiting time in hospitals."
He said most paediatric heart patients were referred to the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in India and it cost about RM10,000 per patient.
However, the government is reducing the number of heart patients sent to India as the facilities in Malaysia have been increased.
Liow said the number of paediatric heart patients in the country was relatively high with 1,000 to 1,500 patients per year and the National Heart Institute (IJN) could only handle 1,000 cases.
"IJN is going to expand its paediatric heart centre to a six-floor building and the ministry is still waiting for the full proposal and details.
"The ministry is also trying to expand the paediatric heart centre in Serdang Hospital by the end of the year."
There are 10 heart centres in the country.
Social Care Foundation Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang said the Taipei hospital would provide free treatment for 10 Malaysian heart patients a year over a three-year period.
"The annual cost of RM1 million or RM100,000 each for patients undergoing surgery will be borne by the hospital, aside from arranging accommodation for accompanying relatives."
Phang added that the foundation would also pay the return airfare from Taipei and meal expenses for two accompanying immediate family members of each heart patient.
Free treatment in Taipei for poor heart patients
PUTRAJAYA: Poor people suffering from acute heart disease can apply for medical treatment from the Taipei Medical University Hospital (TMUH) in Taiwan.
A collaboration between Social Care Foundation Malaysia (SCFM) and the hospital allows heart patients, who are on a long waiting list for the operation, to seek treatment with referral letters from their attending doctors.
Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, who witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the foundation and the Taiwanese university hospital yesterday, said it was an important milestone for the country.
"The government is happy that Taipei Medical University Hospital is offering its services free of charge to our patients," he said at a press conference.
"This move will help us reduce the number of heart patients sent abroad for surgery because our government has been doing so in the past to reduce congestion and waiting time in hospitals."
He said most paediatric heart patients were referred to the Narayana Hrudayalaya Hospital in India and it cost about RM10,000 per patient.
However, the government is reducing the number of heart patients sent to India as the facilities in Malaysia have been increased.
Liow said the number of paediatric heart patients in the country was relatively high with 1,000 to 1,500 patients per year and the National Heart Institute (IJN) could only handle 1,000 cases.
"IJN is going to expand its paediatric heart centre to a six-floor building and the ministry is still waiting for the full proposal and details.
"The ministry is also trying to expand the paediatric heart centre in Serdang Hospital by the end of the year."
There are 10 heart centres in the country.
Social Care Foundation Malaysia chairman Tan Sri Robert Phang said the Taipei hospital would provide free treatment for 10 Malaysian heart patients a year over a three-year period.
"The annual cost of RM1 million or RM100,000 each for patients undergoing surgery will be borne by the hospital, aside from arranging accommodation for accompanying relatives."
Phang added that the foundation would also pay the return airfare from Taipei and meal expenses for two accompanying immediate family members of each heart patient.
