Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) is planning to set up a hospital with a paediatric cardiac centre in its Kampar campus, which will begin operation in 2020.

The RM3-billion hospital project will function as an advanced teaching-learning hub for its medical and health science students.

“We also plan to set up a paediatric cardiac centre in the hospital to serve the Asean community,” said Dr Ling Liong Sik, Utar council chairperson.

He said he hoped that the hospital, to be named after late Perak ruler Sultan Azlan Shah, will be able save more children who suffer from congenital heart disease.

According to the former MCA president, 500 children suffer from heart disease out of 50,000 births annually, for a country which has only 10 paediatric cardiac surgeons.

“We lost children as they cannot wait for the surgery, we need more paediatric cardiac surgeons,” he said iat a press conference at Utar.

Also present were Utar president Chuah Hean Teik, vice-president Lee Sze Wei, and Cheong Soon Keng, the dean of faculty of medicine and health science.

Utar has signed a memorandum of understanding with Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Hospital in Naya Raipur, India, in the programme for exchange of surgeons, cardiologists, nursing staff, and students.

Chuah said the non-profit hospital will provide an affordable service to its patients once it operates.