KUCHING: Cardiologist in Sarawak Heart Centre now can detect and monitor cardiac disease via its new highly innovative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) equipment worth RM9.6 million.
With the acquisition of the MRI technology, State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian said Sarawak has become the first to possess such technology in the Asia Pacific region.
“The MRI provides detailed information on the type and severity of heart disease. This can help the doctors to decide the best way to treat heart problems such as coronary heart disease, heart valve problems, pericarditis, cardiac tumours, or damage from a heart attack.
“The MRI is painless imaging test that uses magnets and a computer to create detailed pictures of the heart,” he said told reporters when visiting the MRI laboratory here in Sarawak Health Centre today.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health secretary-general Datuk Seri Dr Chen Chaw Min said he was impressed with Replacement Through Maintenance (RTM) – a private funding initiative government collaboration project.
“The programme is innovative which the possession of the MRI is funded by One MediCare Sdn Bhd and the government will fund on the maintenance cost annually.
“The equipment is waiting for testing and commissioning. Hopefully within the next two weeks it can be used.
“There is also a new computerised tomography (CT) scan at SGH, which I went there to witness this morning. It’s already there and ready to be used,” he said.
