Overview:
Palau has reached a major healthcare milestone with the successful completion of its first-ever CT coronary angiogram, giving local doctors a powerful new tool to detect heart disease without sending patients overseas.
Historic procedure at Belau Medical Clinic and BNH reduces need for costly off-island cardiac imaging referrals
By: L.N. Reklai
KOROR, Palau – (May 21, 2026) Palau has successfully performed its first coronary CT angiogram, marking a major milestone in the country’s healthcare system and expanding local capacity to diagnose serious heart conditions without sending patients overseas.
According to the Belau Medical Clinic, the historic procedure was successfully completed this week in collaboration with the radiology team at Belau National Hospital and specialists from Fujifilm Singapore.
Dr. Wendy Capili, Nurse Kylie and the BNH Radiology Department team, alongside Fujifilm Singapore technicians Francis and Minh, carried out the first successful coronary CT angiography (CTA) procedure on patient Ngeyus Ngirachelsau.
Ngirachelsau first underwent calcium scoring on May 19 before receiving the coronary CT angiogram on May 20 after technicians corrected a glitch involving the gated ECG monitor required for the procedure.
Dr. Capili described the achievement as a major advancement for healthcare services in Palau.
“It is historic because this marks a significant advancement in cardiac imaging services locally,” Capili said. “This enhances our ability to diagnose unexplained chest pain, coronary artery disease, pinpoint blockages, plaque buildup and assess overall heart anatomy for defects and anomalies with greater accuracy and efficiency.”
She added that the availability of the technology in Palau is expected to significantly reduce the high costs associated with off-island medical referrals for advanced cardiac imaging.
A coronary CT angiogram is a non-invasive imaging procedure that uses specialized CT scanning technology to produce detailed images of the heart’s blood vessels. The procedure helps doctors detect narrowed or blocked arteries, plaque buildup and other abnormalities that can lead to heart attacks or other serious cardiovascular conditions.
The procedure was made possible through the installation of the Fujifilm Scenaria View CT scanner at Belau National Hospital. The system includes “Cardio StillShot” technology, which allows rapid and highly detailed imaging of the heart’s blood vessels while reducing motion blur caused by heartbeat movement.
However, the CT scanner initially did not include the ECG hardware necessary to synchronize imaging with the patient’s heartbeat during coronary angiography procedures. That equipment was later purchased through the Healthcare Financing Fund.
Fujifilm technicians from Singapore were subsequently brought to Palau to train local radiology personnel at BNH, enabling the collaborative effort that resulted in the country’s first successful coronary CT angiogram.
The breakthrough represents another step forward in strengthening Palau’s local medical capabilities and improving access to specialized healthcare services for residents.
