REFER to the New Straits Times (May 4, 2002) coverage of the launch of the External Counterpulsation (ECP) and Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) therapy at our clinic.
ECP therapy, a non-invasive therapy to treat coronary artery diseases, was introduced in Malaysia in 2002.
To date, ECP doctors have conducted 50,000 hours of treatment with 80 to 90 per cent efficacy without any causality.
There are at present about 50 ECP medical centres, including hospitals, clinics and wellness centres in Malaysia.
Retrospective studies show that ECP therapy is non-invasive, safe and cost-effective.
It is 10 times less costly compared to invasive stents.
ECP/EECP therapy is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the Malaysian Medical Device Authority of the Health Ministry.
Since ECP is classified as a medical equipment, it should be in clinics, medical centres, hospitals or wellness centres, supervised by medical practitioners.
Given the fact that ECP/EECP therapy is non-invasive and cost effective, the Health Ministry may want to consider promoting it as an alternative to costly, invasive treatment of coronary artery diseases.
Dr Mohd Ebrahim Sulaiman,
Kuala Lumpur