THE Health Ministry (MOH) has unveiled an expanded programme to reduce waiting times for heart patients, combining new infrastructure, upgraded equipment and a significant increase in specialist training over the next five years.
Deputy Health Minister Datuk Hanifah Hajar Taib said the measures are aimed at addressing both immediate and medium-term pressures on public cardiac services, particularly delays in angiograms and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.
“MOH is adding two invasive cardiology labs at Hospital Sultan Idris Shah, Serdang, which are expected to be operational in 2028, in addition to the services of seven existing ICLs and replacing ICL equipment in 10 hospitals with existing cardiology services, beginning from the Third Rolling Plan (RP3) of the 12th Malaysia Plan and continuing until the current year,” she told the Dewan Negara during oral question time today.
New invasive cardiology labs will also be constructed at Hospital Melaka, Hospital Miri, Hospital Sibu and Hospital Tawau, with operations scheduled to commence in 2027.
The upgrading programme is intended to ensure that all 26 existing invasive cardiology labs operate at optimal levels in delivering safe and high-quality angiogram and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) treatment.
Hanifah said the ministry is also expanding and refurbishing cardiothoracic operating theatres, reorganising cardiac intensive care units and procuring and replacing high-technology equipment to progressively increase treatment capacity and reduce reliance on outsourcing over the medium term.
In response to a question from Senator Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar on long waiting periods for cardiac procedures and plans to expand infrastructure, facilities, manpower and equipment, Hanifah outlined an ambitious workforce strategy.
She said the ministry is strengthening the parallel pathway in cardiothoracic surgery, which has produced graduates since 2022, while a programme at Universiti Teknologi MARA is expected to produce its first cohort in 2027.
“The projection is 45 new cardiothoracic surgeons by 2027, approaching the target requirement of at least 46 cardiothoracic surgeons by 2028,” she said.
Subspecialty cardiology training intake has been doubled from 20 to 40 places annually beginning this year. The ministry aims to increase the number of cardiologists in service to 200 by 2030, taking attrition into account, compared with just 61 at present.
Hanifah added that subspecialty training in cardiac anaesthesia and perfusion is also being reinforced to strengthen heart surgery teams. There are currently 21 subspecialty trainees in ministry hospitals, with four to six new cardiac anaesthetists graduating each year.
“The target by 2030 is 40 specialists, in addition to the existing 14,” she said.
The ministry is also encouraging more nurses and allied health staff to undertake post-basic and advanced diploma training to enhance the competency of cardiac support teams.
Despite these expansion plans, outsourcing remains a key stopgap measure. Last year, 2,894 angiogram cases, 2,137 PCI procedures, 770 bypass surgeries and 132 valve surgeries were outsourced to the National Heart Institute.
Since 2024, a further 2,682 angiograms, 1,758 PCI procedures and 900 bypass surgeries have been channelled to private and university hospitals under the Hospital Services Outsourcing Programme. - March 4, 2026
