S’wak govt green lights thrombectomy services for acute stroke patients

Dato Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian

By Dayakdaily Team

KUCHING, July 9: The Sarawak government has greenlighted the provision of thrombectomy services, which costs RM3.8 million per year, for acute stroke patients to seek treatment in the State.

A thrombectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a blood clot from inside an artery inside the brain and treats strokes caused by blood clots.

Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian said the Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg himself approved the service, which would start at the Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) with the training of more interventional radiologists.

“Money will be allocated to buy catheters and all the apparatus needed for the service so that specialists can perform the procedure here.

“With this, about 500 stroke patients a year will potentially be saved,” said Dr Sim in a press conference at the 8th Asia Pacific Public Health Conference (APCPH) held at a local hotel here today.

He further explained that equipment to perform thrombectomy procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scans and catheters are already available in Sarawak but there is currently only one doctor in the State who can perform the procedure.

Thus he said, he would next seek the approval of the Federal government to enable this service in Sarawak as health matters are still under the Federal authority.

“This is an important service but it does not mean we are trying to take over.

“We found that there are 1,000 individuals suffering from stroke at SGH in a year, and about 500 will benefit from this service,” he added.

According to a news report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas), also present at the press conference were Opar assemblyman Billy Sujang, Sarawak Health Department director Dr Veronica Lugah, and 8th APCPH vice chairman Dr Tahir Aris. — DayakDaily