It was my first time visiting the tourist city of Bali, Indonesia. I arrived in the evening, and accommodation had already been arranged at the venue. The seaside tourist spot was enchanting, and I spent a good part of the evening walking along the beach.

I had come to Bali to attend a two-day program. The discussions were about “Immediate Angioplasty During Heart Attack,” where participants shared their experiences, new achievements, and solutions to challenges. Representatives from across Asia—from Japan and Singapore to Bangladesh and Nepal—had gathered. Delegates from Korea, Thailand, China, and Malaysia were also present.

It was certainly encouraging to have such a program in Asia. Most of the time, we only read or discuss statistics, achievements, and challenges in the medical field from Western countries. However, these experiences do not always align perfectly with our Eastern societies. Genetics, climate, lifestyle, body structure, diet, and many other factors significantly influence physical health issues. Therefore, discussing these topics in the context of our own society is crucial. A senior cardiologist from Indonesia shared his experiences performing angioplasty at a hospital far from Bali and Jakarta, which I found particularly valuable.

He recounted the case of a man in his 60s who arrived at a primary health center with chest pain. After initial examinations, he was referred to a higher-level hospital on suspicion of a heart problem. When a heart attack was confirmed at another hospital, he was sent to a specialized hospital capable of providing heart attack treatment. By then, more than 12 hours had passed since the onset of his chest pain. Despite the delay, the doctors immediately performed an angiogram and found a completely blocked artery supplying blood to the heart. They performed an angioplasty, reopening the artery, and the patient improved.

Such treatment could have been administered within a few hours in Western countries. Rapid intervention is also possible in Japan and Singapore. In our country, however, treatment is often delayed.

Listening to this, I recalled that patients with heart attacks in our hospitals also tend to arrive late. Factors such as geography, poor road access, the level of facilities at primary health centers and hospitals, and so on contribute to delayed treatment. In addition, confusion over whether chest pain is a heart attack, lack of public awareness, and hesitation further delay timely care.

However, awareness about heart disease has been improving, leading to a noticeable increase in the number of patients arriving promptly at our hospitals, and treatment quality has been improving as well. I also shared my experiences during the program, provided some suggestions, and answered questions.