KUCHING – The Sarawak Heart Centre (Pusat Jantung Sarawak, PJS) has welcomed a delegation from the Hospital Sultan Idris Shah Serdang (Serdang Hospital), the largest heart centre under the Ministry of Health Malaysia.
The visit highlighted the close collaboration between two of the country’s leading cardiac institutions, both of which play a pivotal role in advancing cardiothoracic services nationwide.
The Serdang Hospital team, comprising 12 members, represents the three core sub-specialties that form the foundation of cardiothoracic care: cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and cardiac anaesthesia with perfusion. These disciplines work in tandem to deliver comprehensive treatment for patients with complex heart conditions.
Deputy Premier of Sarawak and former Head of Cardiology Specialty at the Ministry of Health, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian, expressed pride in welcoming the delegation. He recalled his involvement in planning the cardiology section of Serdang Hospital during its formative years, underscoring the long-standing professional ties between the two institutions.
Dr Sim shared a personal reflection when Dr Ryan Ng, now Head of Cardiac Anaesthesia at Serdang Hospital, reminded him that he had once served as his house officer at the Sarawak Heart Centre.
“Legacy is how successful the people you had the privilege and honour to work with become after you,” Dr Sim remarked, noting the significance of mentoring future leaders in the medical field.
The delegation also carried a strong Sarawakian connection. Of the 12 members, four are Sarawakians, all women, while two others are married to Sarawakians, which Dr Sim light-heartedly referred to as qualifying them for Sarawak’s “K – Kahwin” identity.
The Sarawak Heart Centre, established in 2001, remains the state’s sole public referral centre for cardiovascular care, serving a population of more than 2.5 million. It provides a full range of services including invasive and non-invasive cardiac procedures, cardiac imaging, and paediatric cardiology.
Meanwhile, Serdang Hospital, officially renamed Hospital Sultan Idris Shah Serdang, has grown into the busiest heart facility under the Ministry of Health, handling tens of thousands of outpatients annually and performing over 12,000 invasive procedures each year.
Its cardiothoracic department, established in 2007, has since expanded to include open-heart surgery, thoracic surgery, and paediatric cardiac services.
The exchange between the two centres reflects Malaysia’s broader commitment to strengthening cardiothoracic services through collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and professional development.
Both institutions are recognised as key contributors to the nation’s cardiac care network, ensuring patients across regions have access to advanced treatment.
The visit concluded with a warm welcome from Sarawak’s medical community, reinforcing the shared mission of improving heart health and building capacity for future generations of specialists.
