Surgeon’s exit delays heart surgeries in Kelantan, Terengganu

Heart patients in Kelantan and Terengganu may face significant delays in undergoing surgeries, following the resignation of the sole cardiothoracic surgeon serving the two states, according to a senator. The cardiothoracic unit at Raja Perempuan Zainab II Hospital, located in Kota Bharu, Kelantan, has been without a specialist since last month.

Critical cases are currently being sent to cardiac facilities in Serdang, Selangor, Penang or Kuantan, depending on availability. However, the decision by a surgeon at Penang Hospital to extend his leave may exacerbate the issue and lead to further delays. This leave is expected to create a backlog in surgeries, causing operations to be postponed for patients from Kelantan and Terengganu.

Additionally, the head of the ministry's cardiothoracic surgery department, Dr Basheer Ahamed Abdul Kareem, resigned on October 23, joining the ranks of affected specialists. The ministry has accepted his resignation, but has not provided further comment. Currently, there are only 12 cardiothoracic surgeons across the seven public hospital facilities, with one set to retire soon. The pressure on these specialists to manage the patient load is immense.