KUALA LUMPUR: Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) has addressed recent concerns raised on social media about the accessibility of its services.

In a statement, the institute said it values community feedback and is committed to transparency, but clarified that the policies discussed in a letter which recently gained traction on social media are based on government guidelines, not IJN’s independent decisions.

“IJN is a corporatised entity wholly owned by the government through the Minister of Finance Incorporated (MoF Inc).

“While we operate under the Private Healthcare Facilities and Services Act 1998, our main mission is to provide exceptional care to all Malaysians, regardless of their financial status or background,” it stated.

The institute also will continue to collaborate with the Health Ministry (MoH) hospitals, serving as a referral centre for cardiology and cardiothoracic cases.

“Patients referred to IJN from public hospitals will be discharged only once they are stable, following a monitoring period of 6 to 12 months to ensure proper recovery,” IJN added.

The process is said to adhere to policies set by the Public Services Department (PSD) and the Health Ministry, rather than IJN’s independent policies.

“Earlier this year, the Health Ministry said the importance of returning patients to MoH hospitals for follow-up care. This ensures IJN can promptly accept and treat new critical and complex cases,” it stated.

IJN supports the strategy of optimising resource allocation within the healthcare system to ensure timely care for all patients.

This also reduces the need for patients, especially those from outside the Klang Valley, to travel long distances for follow-up appointments and medication, it added.