Pakar bedah letak jawatan, pembedahan jantung Kelantan, Terengganu tertangguh

Hospital Raja Perempuan Zainab II (HRPZ II) in Kota Bharu, Kelantan is facing a shortage of the sole cardiac surgeon, resulting in delayed heart surgeries for patients from Kelantan and Terengganu. Senator RA Lingeshwaran revealed that approximately 20 heart patients might have to wait up to four months for surgery at HRPZ II, which has been without a cardiac surgeon since last month.

Critical cases are currently being transferred to facilities in Serdang, Selangor, Pulau Pinang, or Kuantan, depending on the shortage. However, Lingeshwaran warned that the decision of a surgeon at Hospital Pulau Pinang to continue his leave without pay could further exacerbate the situation, putting more patients at a disadvantage.

For patients from the East Coast, this means further delays in their surgeries. Yet, this is not the only issue. Lingeshwaran claimed that the vacancy of Dr. Basheer Ahamed Abdul Kareem, the chief of the cardiology department under the Ministry of Health (KKM), also contributes to the problem. Basheer, who oversees all seven cardiology units in public hospitals nationwide, resigned on October 23, and his decision has been accepted by the ministry, though he declined further comment.

With only 12 cardiac surgeons left in the seven public hospitals nationwide, most of whom are set to retire soon, the pressure on them to manage the patients is immense, according to Lingeshwaran. Health Director Dr. Mahathar Abd Wahab and HRPZ II Director Dr. Izamin Idris have not yet provided a response to FMT's inquiries sent last week.