MALAYSIA: THERE is a rise in the number of children having congenital heart disease seeking treatment at Gleneagles Intan Medical Centre, said its chief executive officer Stuart J.V. Pack.

He said many of them were at the critical stage and came with referral letters with the hope of an immediate surgery.

"Many a time, they do not have the money and have to turn to the media for public help," he said, adding that the hospital charged 10 per cent less for the poor as part of its social responsibility.

He said the compassionate side of Malaysians came to the fore, as in most cases the children get enough funds to pay for the surgery.

"There have been occasions where we had to go ahead with surgery even before public donations came in."

Pack said the hospital took the financial risk of carrying out the operation as the primary concern was the child's life.

"We know that the public will definitely come forward to help."

He added that there was a wrong perception that the media was biased towards certain hospitals by only highlighting their appeals for donations.

Citing the New Straits Times as an example, Pack said, all appeals were done after the hospital had given a letter confirming that the patients needed surgery and the cost incurred.

"I must thank the newspaper for publishing the plight of the children and raising money for their surgeries," he said, adding that the media had helped save the lives of 51 children through public donations.

Last year, the hospital performed 140 congenital heart disease surgeries.

This is a type of defect in one or more structures of the heart or blood vessels that occurs before birth.

These defects occur while the foetus is developing in the uterus and affect 8-10 out of every 1,000 children.