• Today: October 19, 2026

Brunei showcases cardiovascular advances at regional congress

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar in a group photo. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI

Brunei Darussalam is hosting the ASEAN Federation of Cardiology Congress (AFCC) 2026 from October 15 to 18, 2026, bringing together over 700 healthcare professionals, including local and internationally renowned cardiologists and medical practitioners.

Curtains of the event at The Empire Hotel’s Indera Samudra Grand Hall were raised with an opening ceremony on Friday.

Organised by the Brunei Cardiac Society, the congress is being held in conjunction with the society’s 13th Annual Scientific Meeting, marking its return to Brunei Darussalam after the country last hosted the event in 2017.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during the event. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI

The AFCC is the flagship scientific meeting of the ASEAN Federation of Cardiology and the largest cardiovascular congress in the ASEAN region. It brings together leading cardiologists, healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers and industry partners to discuss developments in cardiovascular care.

The congress highlights Brunei Darussalam’s growing role as a regional hub for medical excellence and high-level healthcare discourse.

Since hosting the congress in 2017, the country has made significant strides in developing its cardiovascular healthcare infrastructure and clinical capabilities, with the 2026 event providing a platform to showcase local medical advancements and innovation.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during the event. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI

The scientific programme covers a broad spectrum of modern cardiovascular care, including preventive cardiology and public health, interventional cardiology and electrophysiology, as well as heart failure and advanced imaging.

Sessions on preventive cardiology and public health will address the regional burden of non-communicable diseases and early detection models. The interventional cardiology and electrophysiology track will explore advanced techniques in coronary interventions, structural heart therapies and arrhythmia management.

Meanwhile, sessions on heart failure and advanced imaging will highlight innovations in multimodality cardiac imaging, artificial intelligence-assisted diagnostics and personalised clinical therapies. The congress also involves regional and international partners, including the Asian Pacific Society of Cardiology, American College of Cardiology, Bangla Interventional Therapeutics, European Society of Cardiology, and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar during the event. PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI

On the sidelines of the congress, an exhibition is being held featuring several local and international exhibitors, including Gleneagles JPMC Jerudong, alongside other healthcare organisations and industry partners.

Meanwhile, Minister of Health Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Mohd Isham bin Haji Jaafar, the guest of honour, said cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in Brunei Darussalam, accounting for approximately 27 per cent of all deaths recorded in 2025, highlighting the need for stronger prevention, early detection and continuous care.

He stressed that prevention remained central to the Ministry of Health’s approach, noting that many people may feel healthy despite having undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol.

The ministry is strengthening integrated, people-centred cardiovascular care that follows patients from prevention and screening through diagnosis, treatment and long-term management.

PHOTO: RAFI ROSLI

The ministry has also developed a national cardiovascular disease registry to support monitoring, data-informed planning and policy action. Brunei Darussalam is also working with non-governmental organisations, through which a monitoring and evaluation dashboard has been developed to identify people at risk from hypertension, diabetes, obesity and high cholesterol.

The minister said that artificial intelligence-assisted diabetic retinopathy screening is already being used in the country, supporting earlier identification of complications among people living with chronic diseases. The country continues to strengthen its cardiac diagnostic and treatment services. Ambulances are now equipped with electrocardiogram machines to assist in the early identification of suspected heart attacks, the minister said.

He also emphasised that cardiac rehabilitation, medication adherence and ongoing risk-factor management are essential to recovery.

 

SOURCE/AUTHOR : BORNEO BULLETIN/Lyna Mohamad

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