National Heart Institute (IJN) Archives

5 March 2026

Malaysia

IJN First In Asia To Use New System To Treat Irregular Heart Rhythm

IJN is the first in Asia to use the Affera Prism-2 system to treat atrial fibrillation, allowing mapping and ablation in a single procedure. The national heart centre has treated 11 patients since February, mainly complex cases, with no complications reported.

16 May 2025

Malaysia

IJN Shifts To Mainly Generics, But Still Prescribes Some Innovators

IJN CEO Prof Ezani says IJN has shifted to mostly generics, but still provides some new innovator drugs due to existing contracts and the need to uphold IJN's reputation as a top cardiovascular hospital. Government referrals to IJN have dropped “slightly”.

2 December 2024

Malaysia

The Year Of The Payer: Malaysian Health Care In 2024

2024 is the Year of the Payer in Malaysian health care, with three major policy decisions that benefited payers for health care: health insurance copay mandate, IJN's mandated shift to generics, and the staggered rollout of doctors' on-call allowance hike.

20 November 2024

Malaysia

Important To Sustain IJN’s Good Reputation: Dr Mahathir

Ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also a patient at IJN, criticises a government mandate for IJN to switch public patients from original to generic meds, citing the importance of maintaining IJN's good reputation. IJN was founded in 1992 under his tenure.

12 November 2024

Malaysia

Minister Confirms IJN To Switch To Generic Drugs

Dr Dzul says IJN has agreed to switch from innovators to generics. The health minister hopes this will generate "large savings" for the government. IJN's prices for its 10 most prescribed drugs charged to MOH are up to 4,300% higher than MOH procurement.

8 November 2024

Letter

Clarification Of Statement On IJN’s Switch To Generic Medicines — PhAMA

PhAMA says its earlier statement on IJN's switch to generics erroneously implied that this may compromise patient safety. PhAMA clarifies it was referencing IJN's critically ill patients, saying a sudden change may not be advisable without clinical reason.

6 November 2024

Malaysia

Switching To Generics And Biosimilars Will Ensure IJN’s Sustainability: MOPI

MOPI says shifting to generics and biosimilars, which are widely used in developed countries, will ensure IJN's sustainability. “Generics and biosimilars are not ‘cheap alternatives’ – they are therapeutically equivalent to their originator counterparts.”

5 November 2024

Malaysia

Switching IJN To Generics Won’t Cut Costs: PhAMA

The Pharmaceutical Association of Malaysia tells the government that just changing medicines for IJN, from originator to generics, won't solve cost management problems. "It may even backfire" with a higher disease and cost burden if patients deteriorate.

1 November 2024

Malaysia

MMA Urges Patient Education In IJN’s Mandated Switch To Generics

MMA calls for patient education and obtaining the best quality generic medicines, after the government directed IJN to switch its public patients to generics. In cases where generic versions aren't available, MMA says originator drugs must still be given.

30 October 2024

Malaysia

Government Shouldn’t Restrain IJN’s Ability To Decide What’s Best For Patients: Galen Centre

With Putrajaya directing IJN to switch public patients to generic drugs, the Galen Centre acknowledges MOH's funding constraints, but says IJN shouldn't have "one hand tied behind its back in deciding what is best for patients entrusted under their care."

Tag: National Heart Institute (IJN)

IJN First In Asia To Use New System To Treat Irregular Heart Rhythm

IJN Shifts To Mainly Generics, But Still Prescribes Some Innovators

The Year Of The Payer: Malaysian Health Care In 2024

Important To Sustain IJN’s Good Reputation: Dr Mahathir

Minister Confirms IJN To Switch To Generic Drugs

Clarification Of Statement On IJN’s Switch To Generic Medicines — PhAMA

Switching To Generics And Biosimilars Will Ensure IJN’s Sustainability: MOPI

Switching IJN To Generics Won’t Cut Costs: PhAMA

MMA Urges Patient Education In IJN’s Mandated Switch To Generics

Government Shouldn’t Restrain IJN’s Ability To Decide What’s Best For Patients: Galen Centre

Hire Foreign Housemen, Medical Officers Now: Galen Centre

Master’s Graduates Run Hospitals On ‘Study Leave’ But Can’t Apply For Subspecialty Training — Physician

Worsening Waiting Times At Government Hospitals’ Medical Outpatient Clinics — Physician

Medical Officer Duties, Service Load Strain FMS Gazettement Training — Government Doctor

Beyond Turf: Safeguarding Malaysia’s Clinical Core Before It Thins — Dr Musa Mohd Nordin