Materia Medica Malaysiana

Heart disease still No. 1 killer in S'wak

Heart disease and diseases of pulmonary circulation were collectively the most common causes of death recorded in Sarawak government hospitals from 1998 to 2000.

Such deaths accounted for 1,416 or 13.8 per cent of total deaths, according to heath department statistics.

The higher percentage of heart patients were among people below the age of 45, who suffered from severe coronary heart disease compared to the situation in developed countries.

Meanwhile, the development budget for Sarawak Health Department has increased from RM72.5 million in the Fourth Malaysia Plan (1981-1985) to RM316 million in the current plan.

The manpower had also increased from about 4,000 in 1980 to 11,465 until February this year.

As for the doctor to population ratio, it had also improved from 1:8, 420 in 1980 to 1:2, 476 in 2002.

The number of government hospitals in the State had been increased from 15 in 1980 to 21 this year, whereas health clinics increased from 136 in 1980 to 246 last year.