BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become a huge health burden for Brunei, the country's Minister of Health Haji Mohd Isham said.
According to local daily the Borneo Bulletin on Friday, cardiovascular diseases are the second-highest cause of death in Brunei. More concerning is that there is an increase in the number of young patients receiving treatment for heart diseases such as ischaemic heart disease and heart failure.
Haji Mohd Isham highlighted this worrying trend in his speech as the guest of honor in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between his ministry and a local higher education institution Politeknik Brunei(PB), Ministry of Education on the cooperation in the cardiovascular medical field.
"Detection and diagnosis of disease in the early stage are very important as early treatment ensures a better chance of survival and quality of life," the minister said.
With the development and progress of medical technology, the minister added, "We need highly skilled doctors and technologists not only to operate the latest medical equipment but to interpret readings that have been issued. The capability and skill to do this quickly and accurately is very important in providing healthcare and medical treatment to patients. " Enditem
