UM inks MoU with three institutions for cardiothoracic surgery training programme

KUALA LUMPUR, April 27 (Bernama) -- Universiti Malaya (UM) through its Faculty of Medicine today inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three medical institutes to provide six years of structured training in cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia.

The MoU was signed by UM deputy vice-chancellor (Academic and International) Professor Dr Yatimah Alias; Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh president Professor Michael Griffin; Malaysian Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery president Datuk Dr Basheer Ahamed Abdul Kareem and Academy of Medicine Malaysia master Professor Dr Rosmawati Mohamed and was witnessed by Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Dr Noor Hisham, in his opening speech, said the MoU was timely to address the deficiency of medical professionals in such categories in the country.

“Malaysia is experiencing a lack of paediatric cardiac surgeons, likewise in the rest of the world. Currently, only seven full-time cardiothoracic surgeons are performing paediatric cardiac surgery, and there has been only one new paediatric cardiothoracic surgeon produced in the past 10 years in this country.

“With the signing of this MOU, the Health Ministry (MOH) also envisioned having more cardiothoracic surgery trainees in the field of paediatric cardiac surgery,” he said.

The MoU saw 28 candidates awarded a fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh in the speciality of cardiothoracic surgery.

According to Dr Noor Hisham, in 2030, Malaysia’s population is expected to have around two million additional persons aged 65 years and above, with an estimated 10 per cent increase in disease burden and as a result, the number of patients requiring heart surgery is expected to follow suit.

“Even with the current 68 cardiothoracic surgeons performing adult cardiothoracic surgery in Malaysia, the ministry’s cardiothoracic centres are registering 1,905 patients awaiting surgery as of March 31, 2022.

“To overcome this, the MOH has initiated multiple strategies, including engaging with the university and private hospitals to clear the backlog of cases. MOH is also looking to further strengthen this collaboration by partnering with the Consortium of Public University Hospitals in providing Coronary Artery Bypass Graft services primarily to the underserved group of patients,” he said.

At the event, Dr Noor Hisham also launched the National Curriculum in Cardiothoracic Surgery for cardiothoracic surgery training in the country.

“We must produce competent cardiothoracic surgeons so that patients who require heart, lung and chest surgery will receive the best treatment for their condition,” he said.

-- BERNAMA