Brunei set to become Asian stroke education centre

With Brunei's specialised stroke unit and telemedical facilities, the country is predicted to become an education centre for the Asian region in 10 years.

"Because there is a sharp need of stroke units in Russia, India and Southeast Asia, Brunei having this full-end service is like a light tower in the region, which could be an education centre in about 10 years from now for the region," Professor Uta Meyding-Lamadé told The Brunei Times during a visit to the Krankenhaus Nordwest (KHNW) hospital.

Professor Meyding-Lamadé is a consultant neurologist to Jerudong Park Medical Centre's (JPMC) Neuroscience, Stroke and Rehabilitation Centre (NSRC).

"Having this service and offering education in the centre, I think is a vision project, because you (Brunei) could be the one who educates neurologists to multiply with the knowledge," she added.

The consultant neurologist, who comes to NSRC regularly, said Brunei has proven that it is possible to become an educational facility, and be an example in the region in stroke treatment and rehabilitation.

"Brunei is equipped and prepared for stroke patients, and you (Brunei) can do anything we can do here (KHNW)," she said.

Professor Meyding-Lamadé, who is also the KHNW head of Department of Neurology, said many people involved in the cooperation between JPMC and Nordwest are passionately engaged in the project.

"Many people involved in this cooperation between Brunei and Nordwest, feels it is a project which they want to do. It's like it belongs to our department. We round Nordwest Neuroradiology and Neurology as if it belongs to JPMC as well, although it is 12, 000 kilometres away," she said.

"I am still touched when we do these ward-rounds. During the teleconferences, sometimes it may just be with the patient or sometimes with the patient's family as well, and it is very personal when you give advice to patients and families, as well as doctors and nurses in NSRC," she said.

Stroke patients being treated at the NSRC are not only being monitored and treated by specialised neurologists and nurses there but also by specialists in KHNW Hospital here on a daily basis.

This is made possible through a technological advancement called "Vimed Teledoc" machine, a telemedical facility which allows KHNW specialists to assess the condition of Bruneian patients.

The machine is equipped with a camera and microphones, which lets specialists interact with patients in Brunei around the clock, when necessary.

Professor Meyding-Lamadé said 10 years ago, Brunei would not have been able to do it. "The technology is very new, and this project is the biggest telemedicine project of the world."

"Already now when we (KHNW specialists) are in Brunei, people from other countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia come to visit NSRC and have been highly interested because this system (telemedicine), could later on be delivered from Brunei to Malaysia or Indonesia," she said.

She concluded by saying Brunei is "'really really very far ahead" when it comes to neurology, stroke therapy and rehabilitation in the region.