The 4th China Medical Team (CMT) in Solomon Islands has achieved a historic milestone with the country’s first-ever coronary stent implantation surgery.

The breakthrough procedure was performed at the China-aided Comprehensive Medical Center (CMC) by Dr. Wei Bo and nurse Xiong Guobao of the CMT, together with Dr. Brendon Talota from the National Referral Hospital.

According to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the operation marked the fourth percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) carried out under the guidance of the CMT and signals a major leap in local capacity to treat heart disease.

_{Dr Brendon Talota and Dr Wei Bo performing a PCI coronary stent implantation at the CMC}

Until now, patients had to travel overseas for such treatment, often at great cost and risk. The patient in this case, who had suffered chest pain for more than a year, successfully received two stents and has since made a full recovery.

“This kind of advanced heart surgery used to be unimaginable,” the patient said. “Thanks to the China Medical Team, I received it at my doorstep. They gave me a new life.”

Health officials praised the achievement as a turning point in the country’s healthcare system, making once-unreachable procedures now possible at home.