Bernama BI
USM, YJKM INK MOA TO ASSIST PAEDIATRIC HEART PATIENTS IN EAST COAST
21 January 2024

KOTA BHARU, Jan 21 (Bernama) - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) and Yayasan Jantung Kongenital Malaysia (YJKM) have signed a memorandum of agreement (MoA) to enable more pediatric heart patients, particularly from the East Coast, to receive treatment and surgery at the Hospital USM (HUSM) here.

USM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Seri Dr Abdul Rahman Mohamed said that every year, about 250 to 300 babies are born with congenital heart problems in Kelantan, and a significant number of them come from low-income and less privileged families.

"Of this number, almost one-third of them require early treatment, either surgically or non-surgically.

"So, with this strategic cooperation, YJKM has agreed to cover hospital treatment costs up to RM3,000 per patient, thereby helping alleviate the burden on this group," he told reporters after the MoA signing ceremony at USM Kubang Kerian here today.

Abdul Rahman, representing USM, signed the MoA, while YJKM was represented by its Chief Executive Officer, Tan Chin Zhia.

Commenting further, Abdul Rahman said that HUM is the only hospital in the East Coast that offers pediatric heart patient surgeries, with approximately 60 surgeries performed each year, in addition to transcatheter heart treatments and the care of various types of congenital heart
diseases for up to 120 patients in the same period.

He said HUSM not only treats patients from Kelantan but also receives a significant number of patients from Terengganu.

"Therefore, this two-way collaboration will also benefit patients from outside Kelantan. We hope this collaboration can be expanded in the future to help more pediatric heart patients receive better treatment." he said.

Meanwhile, Tan said the MoA with USM is their third collaboration since the programme was introduced in 2020, with the first collaboration being with the National Heart Institute followed by Pantai Hospital.

He said that until early this year, the foundation has covered the surgical costs for 15 heart patients nationwide and has contributed a total of RM500,000 for equipment and follow-up treatment assistance to patients.