By Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: Patients with critical heart attacks who seek treatment at several health clinics in the Kinta district can now go directly to the Invasive Cardiac Laboratory (ICL) at Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun (HRPB), without first going through the hospital’s Emergency Department.
The initiative, under the Perak Primary PCI STEMI Network: Kinta District Primary Care Chapter, aims to speed up the diagnosis and treatment of patients experiencing ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI).
Deputy Director-General of Health (Medical), Datuk Dr Mohd Azman Yacob, said the network enables patients to receive faster cardiac intervention through a structured and integrated referral system.
He said the Perak Primary PCI STEMI Network, established in July 2025, connects several Perak hospitals with HRPB’s Cardiology Department.
“One year after the network was established, several health clinics in the Kinta district were officially incorporated into the initiative in July 2026.
“Under this arrangement, patients with acute STEMI presenting at the participating health clinics are sent directly to the ICL at HRPB’s Cardiology Department after consultation with a cardiologist,” he said.
He was speaking at the opening of the 2026 Perak State-level World Heart Day celebration and the Perak Primary PCI STEMI Network: Kinta District Primary Care Chapter at the HRPB Daycare Complex Auditorium here last Saturday.
He said acute STEMI is one of the most critical forms of heart attack and requires immediate treatment to minimise damage to the heart muscle.
He stressed that the principle of “Time is Myocardium” must guide all parties, as every minute of treatment delay can worsen damage to the heart muscle.
“I hope the STEMI treatment network in Perak will continue to be strengthened and serve as a model for other states in developing a faster, more systematic and effective system of care for heart attack patients,” he said.
