Advancing The Boundaries Of Cardiac Excellence
Business Today Malaysia|January 2020
IJN Chief Executive Officer Datuk Dr Aizai Azan bin Abdul Rahim, who took the helm in July 2019, shares with Business Today the factors behind IJN’s success
Rajendran Govindarajoo
Advancing The Boundaries Of Cardiac Excellence

Cardiovascular disease has been the top cause of mortality in Malaysia. It was reported earlier this year that death due to heart diseases has more than doubled in the past 10 years, with a total of 13,503 deaths in 2017 compared to only 8776 deaths in 2007.

When Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad suffered a heart attack back in 1989, he placed his confidence in our local doctors to perform his bypass surgery. Realising that cardiac disease was a major cause of mortality in the country, he mooted the idea of having Malaysia’s own centre of excellence for cardiovascular diseases, hence IJN was born. To date, the country’s premier referral centre for cardiovascular diseases, has treated about 4 million patients since it first opened its doors in 1992.

THE JOURNEY

Joining IJN in 1995 as a Senior Registrar in Cardiology, Dr Aizai has had the privillege to grow in leaps and bounds together with the institute, rising from a consultant cardiologist to top management level over the years. Thanks to IJN’s management which provided ample opportunities to hone his knowledge and skills through trainings and further studies abroad.

Clarifying the mist on IJN’s status, Dr Aizai dismissed the notion that IJN was a semi-government hospital. He said although IJN was 99.9 percent owned by the Ministry of Finance, it operated under the private healthcare facilities act, therefore it had always been a fullfledged private hospital.

Dr Aizai, who completed Advance Management and Leadership programme at Oxford University in 2017, believes being owned by the government, has given IJN the autonomy to hire the best cardiovascular doctors, acquire state-of-the-art equipment technology and constantly train its staff to provide the best care for its patients. It has also enabled IJN to realise its vision of becoming a global centre of excellence for cardiovascular diseases.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of Business Today Malaysia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the January 2020 edition of Business Today Malaysia.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM BUSINESS TODAY MALAYSIAView All
Time Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm
Business Today Malaysia

Time Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm

The Aortic Abdominal Aneurysm happens when the wall of the blood vessels starts to weaken which forms an Aneurysm that is commonly known as balloon-like dilation.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2021
The Lexus ES 250 Features A New F Sport Variant
Business Today Malaysia

The Lexus ES 250 Features A New F Sport Variant

The 2022 Lexus ES facelift has arrived in Malaysia- First unveiled at Auto Shanghai 2021 in April this year.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
Heading: Try -180°C Therapeutic Treatment Called  Cryotherapy To Improve Overall Health
Business Today Malaysia

Heading: Try -180°C Therapeutic Treatment Called Cryotherapy To Improve Overall Health

Health has gained a significant attention in this pandemic and being at your best form is a good way to fight the current problems in every aspect of health from fitness, depression, pain management, sports injury, antiageing, weight loss and beauty.

time-read
2 mins  |
December 2021
Is It Too Late To Start Investing In Bitcoin?
Business Today Malaysia

Is It Too Late To Start Investing In Bitcoin?

The noise around Bitcoin has risen sharply in the last month after the world’s most popular cryptocurrency reached its all-time high on 9 November 2021. With all the talk of its price continuing to grow, it is easy to think that it might be too late to start investing in Bitcoin. However, it is not too late and, in fact, Bitcoin adopters are actually early. Bitcoin, and cryptocurrency in general, has received mainstream adoption and looks to be around for years to come.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2021
Smart SBB To Boost Farmers Income
Business Today Malaysia

Smart SBB To Boost Farmers Income

Director-General for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAFI), Azman Mahmood, in a special meet the media session, led the pre-launch briefing of Project Smart Sawah Berskala Besar (Smart SBB) a day before the official launch by his Minister.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
Budget 2022 – Seizing The Right Moment
Business Today Malaysia

Budget 2022 – Seizing The Right Moment

The recent data point suggests Malaysia will stand to benefit from the global recovery.

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
Power Of Role Model – How The Habits Of Parents And Kids Are Interrelated?
Business Today Malaysia

Power Of Role Model – How The Habits Of Parents And Kids Are Interrelated?

A new global survey, commissioned by Kaspersky, explores the role of healthy digital habits in the family, as well as the effect of parents’ behavior on children and vice versa

time-read
3 mins  |
December 2021
Better Late Than Never, But Act Now
Business Today Malaysia

Better Late Than Never, But Act Now

The world should now be more aware of likely COVID-19 devastation unless urgently checked. Last week, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced an US$8 billion plan to quickly vaccinate many more people to expedite ending the pandemic.

time-read
4 mins  |
December 2021
Accelerates MSMEs Digitalisation Journey
Business Today Malaysia

Accelerates MSMEs Digitalisation Journey

97.2% of businesses in Malaysia are made up of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This important business sector plays a significant role in the Malaysian economy by contributing 38.2% of Malaysia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). MSMEs also contributes significantly in providing job opportunities.

time-read
6 mins  |
December 2021
Business Today Malaysia

Leadership That Can Prevent Toxic Workplaces And High Turnover

“It is our organisation’s mission to create the largest and most productive coworking community in Malaysia & moving forward, South East Asia,”

time-read
2 mins  |
November 2021