By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: KMC Medical Centre is set to make history as the first hospital in Perak to introduce a next-generation Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Zero Helium, offering faster scans, lower maintenance costs, and sharper, more precise imaging.
According to KMC Medical Centre’s Director and Chief Executive Officer, Suresh Kumar, the latest MRI technology from Fujifilm no longer requires helium, which was previously used to cool MRI magnets. This eliminates the need for costly and hard-to-obtain helium top-ups.
“For conventional MRI machines, helium evaporates over time and must be replenished. With Zero Helium technology, maintenance costs are significantly lower and more sustainable in the long term,” he told Ipoh Echo/Peraktastic.
Today, KMC Medical Centre signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with FUJIFILM Malaysia and City Motors Group, witnessed by YB Dato’ Sivanesan Achalingam, Chairman of the Perak Health, Human Resources, National Integration, and Indian Affairs Committee.
Present at the ceremony were FUJIFILM Malaysia Managing Director Kensuke Aragane and City Motors Group Executive Director Foo Yit Loong.
Suresh Kumar highlighted that the integration of AI in the MRI system also speeds up scanning times, reducing a typical 30-minute scan to just 15–20 minutes.
“This not only improves service efficiency but also provides greater comfort for patients, particularly the elderly, children, infants, and those who experience claustrophobia. A shorter time inside the MRI chamber greatly benefits patients who feel uneasy during scans,” he said.
He added that AI also enhances image quality, producing brighter, clearer, and more accurate scans, which helps radiologists and specialists make precise diagnoses and treatment plans.
Clinically, the MRI operates at 1.5 Tesla and can detect a wide range of diseases similar to conventional MRI machines, including scans of the brain, thorax, abdomen, and limbs, without being limited to specific conditions.
“The difference lies in scan efficiency and image accuracy, not the scope of diseases detected,” he said.
On service costs, Suresh Kumar said that while rates have yet to be finalised, KMC is committed to upholding its tradition of offering the most affordable treatment compared to other private hospitals.
“Most of our patients are from the B40 and M40 income groups who do not have insurance and cannot wait long at public hospitals. Our goal is not high profit but to provide quick, high-quality, and affordable care for the community,” he said.
He also noted that the hospital has submitted an approval application to the Medical Device Control Committee (CCAPS) under the Ministry of Health Malaysia, with MRI installation expected to be completed around July.
“Following installation and calibration, operations are anticipated to begin in July or August, starting with one MRI unit,” he added.
