This would be IJN’s first institute outside of KL since its establishment in 1992

By ASILA JALIL / Pic TMR

THE National Heart Institute (IJN) will extend its services to Terengganu in collaboration with Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) to make cardiac care accessible to patients in the east coast.

This would be IJN’s first institute outside of Kuala Lumpur (KL) since its establishment in 1992.

IJN Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Dr Aizai Azan Abdul Rahim said the institute receives patients from all over the country and those from the east coast states make up about 30,000 patients.

“This is one way for us to improve the accessibility of quality healthcare to the patients.

“Distance is a major issue for some of our patients, so bringing the services closer to them is one way to enhance cardiac care,” he said in a press conference after the signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) with UniSZA in KL yesterday.

The collaboration is premised on UniSZA’s existing medical campus and faculty in Kuala Terengganu, and it is expected to begin operations by the first quarter of 2022.

Upon the signing of the MoU, both parties intend to commence the initial stage of their cooperation with the provision of certain cardiovascular and thoracic consultancy, as well as advisory services at UniSZA’s teaching hospital.

Dr Aizai Azan said in the coming years, both parties hope to provide full services that are available in IJN to the teaching hospital.

“We plan to provide full cardiac screening and testing, cardiac diagnostics investigation, treatment of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases, as well as emergency treatment for heart attacks and heart failure.

“IJN will also engage in the training of medical practitioners and allied health staff,” he said in his speech yesterday.

He added that IJN chose to partner with UniSZA as the university carries qualities that best compliments IJN’s needs such as a dynamic teaching faculty.

IJN also welcomes collaboration with other universities in the future to gain greater reach to patients in other states, said Dr Aizai Azan.

UniSZA vice chancellor and president Prof Datuk Dr Hassan Basri Awang Mat Dahan said the MoU will provide more opportunities for both parties to explore further on the business venture while benefitting both parties on technologies and knowledge on the field of cardiology.

He noted that the collaboration paves way for more research in cardiology to be done which could be expanded beyond Malaysia.

“With the establishment of IJN in Terengganu, it will benefit those who reside in Kelantan and Northern Penang who require medical services from IJN due to the shortened travelling period.

“This MoU will also boost business opportunities and economic activities for the locals,” he said.

The duration of the MoU will be for two years and UniSZA has authorised its wholly-owned company, UniSZA Holdings Sdn Bhd, to act on behalf of the university in the scope of the MoU with IJN.