MEDICAL EQUIPMENT FOR PROPOSED CARDIAC UNIT IN BINTULU HOSPITAL

The Sarawak Heart Foundation has successfully raised RM2.25 million for the purchase of medical equipment and consumables for the setting up of the cardiac unit in Bintulu Hospital.

Petroleum Sarawak Berhad (PETROS) contributed RM1.6 million while Press Metal Bintulu Sdn Bhd sponsored RM500,000 and Bintulu Port Holdings Berhad added RM150,000.

Some of the basic infrastructure was already in place in Bintulu Hospital and upon the delivery of the equipment scheduled for early 2025, cardiology services will commence immediately. Cardiologists from Sarawak Heart Centre will be assigned to take care of the patients in Bintulu Hospital. 

The cardiac unit will be able to address the immediate needs of Bintulu Hospital in providing cardiology services to patients in the Northern Region of Sarawak.  Presently, heart patients in Bintulu and the Northern Region of the State have to be referred to Sarawak Heart Centre in Kuching. 

The Foundation also have plans to complement the government’s efforts in establishing cardiology services at Sibu Hospital and Miri Hospital through seed funding as the process of upgrading existing infrastructure and setting up of new services can take a number of months or years.

The Foundation has been working closely with the Sarawak Heart Centre to upgrade facilities and services to improve access and care for cardiac patients in Sarawak through fundraising and collaboration with corporate donors. However, access to Sarawak Heart Centre located in Kota Samarahan remains a challenge for many patients and carers from other parts of Sarawak, including Bintulu, due to the physical distance that they have to travel.