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Dr Mohamed Ezani (left) and Jasnih speak to the media.
KOTA KINABALU (April 6): Groundbreaking on the National Heart Institute (IJN) Sabah Hospital is expected by the end of this year or early next year, said Datuk Jasnih Daya.
The Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (ICSB) executive chairman said details such as building design, number of floors, and bed capacity have yet to be finalised as planning remains at an early stage.
“There will be Phase One and Phase Two. We need to determine which components should be prioritised first. Ideally, for a hospital like IJN, we need a large building to accommodate all the necessary instruments and infrastructure,” he told reporters after the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Yayasan Sabah Group and IJN here.
Jasnih said a 10-acre site in Likas has been gazetted for the proposed institute.
“The land has been identified and specifically allocated for a heart institute. However, it is not impossible for us to consider other possibilities, including different approaches or locations that may be more suitable,” he said.
“This is a specialised industry, so we must allow IJN to manoeuvre and guide us, while we assist in areas such as land and related support.”
He said the project’s total cost has yet to be determined, with discussions ongoing on various development models, including building on vacant land or utilising existing facilities.
“What we can confirm is that the land is available and there is some allocation from the state government,” he said, adding that funding is expected to involve other parties, including Yayasan Sabah and IJN.
“Fast does not necessarily mean good if things are not properly planned. What is important now is thorough discussions with IJN to ensure a solid plan before execution.”
IJN chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohamed Ezani Md Taib said services for the Sabah heart institute will be implemented in phases, allowing patients to benefit earlier.
“We don’t want to wait until the building is completed before starting services. We want to implement this in phases,” he said.
“At the moment, there are already 15 students undergoing training in outpatient care at clinics.”
Dr Mohamed Ezani said the initial phase may involve using existing facilities in Sabah to begin outpatient consultations and diagnostic services.
“We can start with outpatient services and investigations first. The next phase will involve inpatient care, procedures, and other specialised treatments,” he explained.
Dr Mohamed Ezani noted that while services can begin early, the construction of a full-fledged facility is expected to take three to four years.
He stressed workforce development is a key component of the project, given the specialised nature of cardiac care.
“The first step is to develop a comprehensive manpower strategy involving clinicians, nurses, and allied health professionals,” he said.
He explained that workforce planning will depend on the final scale of the hospital, including the number of beds, ICU units, and operating theatres.
“To train a nurse takes about three years, and to specialise in cardiac care requires another two to three years. For doctors, it can take eight to 10 years. That is why early planning is critical,” he said.
He said a collaboration with IJN University College and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) will help build local capacity.
“UCSF does not currently offer medical programmes, but we will work together with IJN-UC to transfer knowledge and introduce relevant courses. This is just the beginning,” he said.
Selected personnel may also be sent to Kuala Lumpur for hands-on training at IJN, he added.
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