THE operating theatres in the 15-month-old Serdang Heart Centre are expected to be fully operational next month, Sultan Idris Shah Hospital deputy director Dr Ferwahn Fairis said.

The heart centre is part of the main hospital. It was opened in December 2022 to reduce dependency on Kuala Lumpur’s National Heart Institute (IJN).

It was recently reported that all four of the centre’s operating theatres were unusable because of maintenance issues.

In an interview with The Malaysian Insight, Dr Ferwahn stated that the heart centre faced problems with its climate control system, which is necessary to ensure that surgeries run safely and smoothly.

“We are working on the issue. For now, three of the four operating theatres are functioning. We are working with the contractor and the Public Works Department.

“They have fully assured us that all the operating theatres will be fully functioning this June,” he said.

He added that the heart centre was running at 83% capacity.

He said all wards at the heart centre were fully functional.

“The operating theatres at the heart centre are operating at a capacity of 83%. The problem is specifically for major surgeries in the operating theatres.

“As for the rest of the services, we are running at full capacity,” he said.

He reiterated that the problem was only with the operating theatres.

“The operating theatres must function at a certain level of temperature and humidity to ensure the best outcomes for patients and operations.

“This is not being catered for currently. This climate control system is still being set so the conditions are ideal, and that is the main issue.

“We have engaged the contractor, and work is supervised by JKR. Meetings are ongoing, repairs are ongoing, and the timeline is to get it sorted as soon as possible.

“We hope to have everything sorted by June,” he said.

He also clarified that the operating theatres in the main building of the hospital were all functioning.

“It’s not right to say we are not doing any surgeries at the moment. At the main building (the hospital), all four operating theatres are functioning.

“And here at the heart centre, we have four operating theatres, which we call labs; of the four, three are running.”

Media reports, quoting sources had stated that the four operating theatres at the heart centre were not functioning because of faulty air conditioning.

A source said the operating theatres had light, air conditioning, and equipment issues after being closed for three years.

On Saturday, Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said three operating theatres in the heart centre will be operational for elective and emergency surgeries next month.

“In the meantime, angiogram services at the centre and emergency treatment for patients will continue as normal at the facilities of Hospital Sultan Idris Shah (Serdang Hospital),” he said on X. – May 26, 2024.