Gleneagles JPMC has launched its Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI) Awareness Campaign aimed at boosting awareness among the community on the warning signs of a heart attack.
The initiative also focuses on highlighting Brunei Darussalam’s strengthened treatment pathway for heart attack patients.
In his remarks, Chief Executive Officer of Gleneagles JPMC Dr Peter Tay said that in 2024, as in the previous years, cardiovascular diseases remained the second most common cause of death in the country, claiming 572 lives, with more than half of these deaths occurring prematurely.
“For years, our commitment has been to provide the best possible care for every patient who comes through our doors, but treatment alone is not enough. Heart health requires strong partnerships, timely interventions and community-wide awareness,” he said.
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.
“What used to take nearly two hours or more from the onset of symptoms of a heart attack to the patient receiving definitive treatment, is now being reduced to below 30 minutes for patients in the Brunei-Muara district,” said Dr Tay.
Today, with the direct referral and coordinated response system in place, treatment can be administered as quickly as 27 minutes, 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.
Some 76 EMAS paramedics have been trained to date, alongside more than 30 from private institutions. These training initiatives, conducted by Gleneagles JPMC, seek 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, 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 the launch as 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 a heart attack and act quickly.
The hospital will also showcase the awareness campaign at the upcoming Non-Communicable Disease International Conference from 8 to 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 experts 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.
The event was attended by Minister of Health Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Hj Md Isham Hj Jaafar, Minister of Health, along with other healthcare leaders, emergency medical services and cardiac specialists.
Also present were members of the board of directors of Gleneagles JPMC, officials from the Ministry of Health and the private sector, and management and staff of Gleneagles JPMC.
THE BRUNEIAN | BRUNEI-MUARA
