Gleneagles JPMC has officially launched its Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Awareness Campaign, held to raise awareness on the warning signs of heart attack and to highlight Brunei Darussalam’s strengthened treatment pathway for heart attack patients.
The event, graced by the Guest of Honour, Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Md Isham bin Hj Jaafar, Minister of Health, brought together healthcare leaders, emergency medical services, and cardiac specialists to reaffirm the nation’s commitment to saving lives through timely and coordinated cardiac care.
Also in attendance was Dr Peter Tay, Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles JPMC, members of board of directors of Gleneagles JPMC, officials from Ministry of Health and private sectors, management and staff of Gleneagles JPMC.
In 2024, cardiovascular diseases claimed the lives of 572 people in Brunei, with more than half of these deaths occurring prematurely. To address this, Gleneagles JPMC being the nation’s only dedicated cardiac specialist centre, has been working hand-in-hand with the Ministry of Health and the Emergency Medical Ambulance Services (EMAS) to refine and streamline Brunei’s ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) pathway.
Previously, patients experiencing a heart attack could experience a longer timeframe before receiving life-saving intervention. Today, with the direct referral and coordinated response system in place, treatment can be administered in as urgent as 27 minutes for patients in the Brunei-Muara District, marking a significant improvement in patient survival and recovery.
Since its implementation, the direct referral pathway has shown remarkable progress in improving cardiac care outcomes. Between January and September 2025, a total of 94 referrals were made to Gleneagles JPMC, a sharp increase compared to just 4 cases recorded in late 2023. Of these, 39 patients met referral criteria and were transferred to Gleneagles JPMC, with 23 successfully undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PPCI), while the rest were found not to require any intervention. Notably, all patients transferred were discharged with no mortality, highlighting the life-saving impact of timely intervention and the strengthened collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Gleneagles JPMC.
The success of the pathway is closely tied to the capabilities of frontline responders. Gleneagles JPMC and EMAS have therefore placed strong emphasis on workforce training. 76 EMAS paramedics have been trained to date, alongside more than 30 from private institutions. These training initiatives, conducted by Gleneagles JPMC seeks to ensure that paramedics are well-equipped to rapidly identify heart attack cases and activate the pathway without delay.
The launch also featured a panel discussion, “The Journey to a Unified PPCI Pathway”, where leading experts shared their perspectives on the system’s development and execution. Dr Sofian Johar, Head of the Cardiology Department at RIPAS Hospital, provided a historical overview of the pathway and its alignment with international best practices adapted for Brunei.
Dr Paula Mota, Senior Consultant Interventional Cardiologist at Gleneagles JPMC, highlighted the translation of strategy into practice, including training programmes for emergency staff and the challenges of ensuring consistency across institutions. Meanwhile, Tuan Pg Hj Laila Halip, Head of Operations, EMAS Tutong and Belait Branch, Ministry of Health, gave a frontline perspective, illustrating how paramedics have benefitted from the protocol through improved triage, communication, and transportation times.
The AMI Awareness Campaign will extend beyond today’s ceremony. Gleneagles JPMC will be rolling out educational outreach through schools, workplaces, social media, and community programmes to ensure the public is better equipped to recognise early symptoms of heart attack and act quickly. The hospital will also showcase the awareness campaign at the upcoming Non-Communicable Disease International Conference this 8-12 October at ICC Berakas.
As the country’s sole cardiac specialist hospital, Gleneagles JPMC remains at the centre of Brunei’s fight against heart disease. With advanced facilities, specialist expertise, and proven outcomes, the hospital continues to serve as the anchor for cardiac care — ensuring that patients not only receive the fastest possible treatment, but also the highest standard of care.
The campaign launch closed with an exhibition tour on AMI awareness and educational displays, before concluding with light refreshments.
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