SELANGOR Health director Dr Ummi Kalthom Shamsudin has confirmed that the operating theatre in the new heart centre at the Sultan Idris Shah Hospital in Serdang still cannot be used due to technical issues involving electrical supply and high humidity.
As such, at the moment cardiothoracic surgeries are being performed in the main hospital wing, she said, adding that some patients have been sent to the National Heart Institute (IJN).
“The Health Ministry has also taken the initiative to outsource patients in need of cardiothoracic surgery to private facilities.
“This initiative is in the final stages of planning and is expected to be implemented in the near future,” she said in a statement posted on the Selangor Health Department Facebook account on Sunday (May 19).
Dr Ummi Kalthom was responding to an Utusan Malaysia article on Friday (March 17) on the issue.
She stated that further action is taken by the main contractor under the surveillance of the Public Works Department (JKR) before the complex can begin operations.
“It is hoped that performing cardiothoracic surgeries in the main hospital wing will shorten patients’ waiting time to receive treatment,” she added.
“The Selangor Health Department will closely monitor the repairs at the Serdang Heart Centre’s Surgery Complex and ensure that the process is expedited for the continuation of service.”
On Tuesday (May 14) The Star reported that the Serdang Heart Centre which opened in December 2022 is reportedly facing critical issues as four of its operating theatres are unable to be utilised citing maintenance issues.
According to the report, the RM546 mil new facility was meant to reduce dependency on Kuala Lumpur’s IJN.
However, the Serdang Hospital, which houses the heart centre, continues to carry out two to three heart surgeries a day at its old building.
It is learnt that Serdang Hospital has only one of its four older operating theatres operational. – May 20, 2024
Main pic credit: Kosmo
