A medical volunteer from Birmingham Children’s Hospital provides training for the staff of Serdang Hospital, our newest partner in Malaysia
Published on July 2, 2019
Boston Scientific has renewed its support for our work in Malaysia, where we focus not only on training heart care specialists, but also on developing the infrastructure for pediatric cardiac care. This ensures that high-quality care is accessible to all children in need in the country.
Despite having one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia, Malaysia needs more specialized health care professionals to address the complex needs of its youngest heart patients. An estimated 3,000 children born annually with a congenital heart defect in Malaysia require surgery, but not all children receive the timely care they need.
“This contributes to our 5-year goal to significantly increase access to high-quality cardiac care for Malaysian children. We will do so by supporting and developing sustainable national training programs for highly skilled pediatric cardiac professionals,” says Anne Betzner, Children’s HeartLink Vice President of Programs and Evaluation.
Support from Boston Scientific will assist our newest partner, Serdang Hospital serving the western state of Selangor, in becoming a Children’s HeartLink Center of Excellence. This achievement requires that the hospital consistently delivers high-quality care for children with heart disease. Medical volunteers from Birmingham Children’s Hospital in the United Kingdom are the primary trainers and mentors for the staff at Serdang Hospital.
Boston Scientific also supports our existing Center of Excellence Institut Jantung Negara in Kuala Lumpur, which serves 11,000 children annually. This hospital is a major training provider in the country and the broader Southeast Asia region.
Finally, by supporting our macro-impact strategy, Boston Scientific helps us build relationships and advocate with the Malaysian government for cardiac workforce expansion, national health care planning and financing for heart surgeries. The strategy also includes engaging professional societies to increase awareness about the needs of children with heart disease and exploring the development of a national registry for patients receiving pediatric cardiac surgery.
“We are proud to support Children’s HeartLink in their mission to improve the quality of care for the many children in Malaysia and across the globe with heart conditions,” said Kenneth Stein, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer, Global Health Policy and Rhythm Management, Boston Scientific. “Our longstanding partnership highlights our dedication to advancing science for life and our commitment to ensure all those impacted by heart disease have access to the best possible care.”
A manufacturer of medical devices, Boston Scientific has been our steadfast supporter over the years. We received our first grant from Boston Scientific in 2008. Thanks to Boston Scientific, Children’s HeartLink expands its work to save more children every year.
Read more about our work here.