Taiping Named Malaysia’s First Angels Region for Excellence in Stroke Care
Recognition highlights Taiping’s commitment to improving stroke care and patient outcomes under the global Angels Initiative
Taiping has been officially recognised as Malaysia’s first Angels Region, marking a major milestone in the nation’s ongoing efforts to improve stroke care and patient outcomes. The Angels Region Award, presented by the Angels Initiative in collaboration with the World Stroke Organization (WSO), celebrates the outstanding partnerships of hospitals, emergency services, local authorities and educators within the region for one mission: delivering better outcomes for stroke patients.
The Angels Region certification was awarded to Perak State Health Department, in recognition of the exceptional coordination between Hospital Taiping, Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Larut Matang dan Selama (LMS), Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah LMS and Pejabat Kemajuan Masyarakat (KEMAS) Taiping.
During the ceremony, Hospital Taiping, a specialist hospital within the Northern Perak cluster hospitals, was also awarded the World Stroke Organisation (WSO) Angels Award Q2 2025 Platinum Status and the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Angels Award Q2 2025 Diamond Status, in recognition of their commitment in delivering timely, high-quality stroke treatment.
“Stroke remains one of the leading causes of death and disability in Malaysia. An estimated 41,000 stroke patients are admitted to Ministry of Health hospitals each year1, highlighting the urgent need for stronger, coordinated stroke care nationwide. Behind every number is a person, a family, and a community affected by stroke. The Angels Initiative is about enabling hospitals to act quickly and effectively when every minute counts because timely, high-quality care can mean the difference between recovery and lifelong disability,” said Dr. Jamal Malik, Head of Medicine, Boehringer Ingelheim Malaysia Singapore and Indonesia.
“Taiping’s recognition reflects what’s possible when hospitals, healthcare professionals, and partners unite with a shared purpose, to give every stroke patient the best chance at survival and recovery. We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all at Taiping whose commitment and collaboration have made this achievement possible. At Boehringer Ingelheim, we are committed working closely with hospitals, stroke teams, and the Ministry of Health to expand the Angels Initiative to more hospitals and regions across Malaysia, helping to create a nationwide network of stroke-ready centers,” he added.
Taiping has also exceeded its population-based target for FAST Heroes campaign, one of the key requirements for the Angels Region award, reaching 777 children with life-saving stroke awareness education. Endorsed by the World Stroke Organisation (WSO), FAST Heroes is an award-winning, school-based program designed to empower young children to share their knowledge with parents and grandparents, helping to build greater public awareness of the warning signs of stroke and the urgency of seeking medical help quickly.
In recognition of their participation, 14 organizations and schools in Taiping received certification for the FAST Heroes campaign, including Pejabat Kesihatan Daerah Larut Matang dan Selama (LMS), Pejabat Pendidikan Daerah LMS, Pejabat Kemajuan Masyarakat (KEMAS) Taiping as well as one public school, three private kindergartens and seven KEMAS schools.
“We are deeply proud that our state has been recognised as Malaysia’s first Angels Region. This recognition reflects the progress we’ve made in strengthening stroke care under the Ministry of Health’s ongoing commitment to improving outcomes for non-communicable diseases. Through initiatives like the Angels Initiative, we are building a more responsive and coordinated stroke care system. Our success is the result of strong collaboration between hospitals, healthcare professionals, and partners who share a common goal: to give every stroke patient in Malaysia, regardless of where they live, the best possible chance at recovery,” said Dr. Feisul Idzwan Mustapha, Perak State Health Director.
Launched in 2024, the 100 Angels Region Strategy is a global effort to make stroke care safer by transforming 100 regions into fully coordinated stroke-ready ecosystems by December 2027. A region qualifies when it achieves four key pillars: widespread community awareness through campaigns like FAST Heroes; gold -standard EMS performance to ensure stroke is recognized and patients reach care fast; a sufficient network of stroke-ready hospitals capable of delivering timely, evidence-based treatment; and all hospitals achieving at least Gold status in the ESO/WSO Angels Awards with continuous data-driven quality improvement.
Reference:
1 Teoh, C. S. C., Ho, Y. H., Schee, J. P., Lim, C. T., Looi, I., Wan Zaidi, W. A., & Hoo, F. K. (2023, May). Malaysia Stroke Conference 2022: Report and Stroke Update [Conference report]. Stroke Council. https://www.strokecouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Malaysia-Stroke-Conference-2022-Report-and-Stroke-Update050523.pdf