For many Malaysians living with serious heart disease, the greatest challenge is not always the diagnosis itself—it is finding a way to afford the treatment that could save their lives.
Datuk Dr Tamil Selvan Muthusamy (left), consultant cardiologist at CVSKL and Tan Sri Rashpal Singh Randhay, chairman of CVSKL foundation.
At the CVSKL Foundation, the charitable arm established by Cardiac Vascular Sentral Kuala Lumpur (CVSKL) in 2022, the mission is to help financially vulnerable patients facing some of the most complex and expensive cardiac conditions.
Since its establishment, the foundation has funded 39 major cardiac procedures, including seven in 2022, 12 in 2023, six in 2024, 10 in 2025 and four so far this year.
CVSKL Foundation chairman Tan Sri Rashpal Singh Randhay said the organisation was created to ensure that financial hardship does not prevent patients from accessing lifesaving care.
“The vision was always about giving back to society. We wanted to help patients who genuinely have no means of obtaining the treatment they need,” he said.
A Careful and Dedicated Selection Process
Unlike many charitable healthcare programmes, every application undergoes a thorough financial and medical assessment before assistance is granted.
Beyond evaluating a patient’s financial circumstances, each case is reviewed by CVSKL specialists, who assess the complexity of the condition, available treatment options and the urgency of intervention before making recommendations to the foundation’s trustees.
“We reject about 50% of applications because our resources are limited and we need to prioritise those who are most in need.
“Our focus is on cases where patients referred to us have exhausted all means of financial support,” Rashpal said.
He explained that the rigorous assessment process ensures that the foundation’s limited resources are directed towards those with the greatest need.
One recent case involved a 14-year-old girl whose application was initially rejected but later reassessed after further evaluation by the medical team. Based on the specialists’ recommendations, the foundation eventually approved funding for a right heart catheterisation procedure.
“We rejected the case at first, but after further review and strong recommendations from the doctors, the case was approved,” he said.
Supporting Patients with the Most Complex Conditions
Datuk Dr Tamil Selvan Muthusamy, Consultant Cardiologist at CVSKL, said the foundation focuses on helping patients who have exhausted all other avenues for treatment.
“These are the patients we want to help — those who really have no means to pay for medical procedures that they need,” he said.
Datuk Dr Tamil Selvan Muthusamy (left), consultant cardiologist at CVSKL and Tan Sri Rashpal Singh Randhay, chairman of CVSKL foundation.
Many beneficiaries, he explained, suffer from severe and highly complex cardiac conditions and have often been assessed as high-risk or have waited a long time for treatment elsewhere.
“A lot of the patients who come to us are not straightforward cases.
“Many are extremely ill, have been waiting a long time for treatment, or have been assessed as very high risk,” he said.
Tamil Selvan recalled one patient who arrived at CVSKL after a prolonged wait for treatment and was in critical condition.
“He was so sick that we were not even sure he would survive.
“He spent almost a month in hospital, but today he is doing well. The foundation played a crucial role in helping him receive treatment,” he said.
What Makes the Foundation Different
A key feature of the programme is the level of support provided by the hospital and its medical specialists.
For approved cases, CVSKL doctors waive their professional fees, while the hospital charges the foundation at cost instead of commercial rates. In some cases, medical device suppliers also contribute through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to further reduce treatment costs.
“The doctors do not charge professional fees and the hospital charges us at cost.
“That allows us to help patients who otherwise would not have been able to afford treatment,” Rashpal said.
Among the advanced procedures supported by the foundation are transcatheter mitral valve repair, Impella-assisted high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and right heart catheterisation.
Tamil Selvan noted that some of these treatments involve technologies available at only a handful of centres in Malaysia.
One example is the Impella heart pump, a temporary mechanical circulatory support device used during highly complex coronary procedures.
“The device alone costs about US$25,000 (RM100,702.44). These are not routine angioplasty cases.
“They are often patients with severe heart failure or complex blockages where conventional treatment carries very high risk.
“Without support, many would simply not be able to access such treatment,” he said.
Sustaining the Mission
The foundation is one of three pillars established by CVSKL alongside public health education and research, although much of its resources are currently focused on patient assistance.
To sustain its work, the foundation depends on donations and fundraising activities.
Rashpal said the organisation typically holds two major fundraising events each year to support future patient programmes. This year, the foundation will host a charity hi-tea at The St Regis Kuala Lumpur on June 13, followed by a golf tournament later in the year.
The fundraising target is approximately RM1 million, which will help support patients through 2027 and 2028.
At present, the foundation’s funding model combines hospital cost-price support, CSR partnerships, fundraising efforts and a RM500,000 pledge from CVSKL.
Beyond the foundation itself, CVSKL also works with medical device companies and corporate partners to subsidise treatment for financially challenged patients who may not qualify for foundation assistance but still struggle to afford care.
Despite these efforts, Tamil Selvan acknowledged that demand continues to exceed available resources.
“We want to help more people, but funding remains the biggest limitation.
“There are many patients who could benefit from these treatments, but every programme depends on having sufficient resources,” he said.
More Than the Cost of Treatment
For Rashpal, the mission remains simple despite the challenges.
“Every application represents someone fighting for their life.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that those who truly have nowhere else to turn are given a chance,” he said.
As cardiovascular disease remains one of Malaysia’s leading causes of death, the foundation believes access to advanced cardiac treatment should not depend solely on a patient’s financial circumstances.
For the patients whose lives have already been changed through the programme, the value of that support cannot be measured in ringgit and sen.
For them, it is the cost of a heartbeat.
