IJN was established on 1st August 1992 as a heart specialist institution committed to delivering advanced standards in cardiovascular and thoracic medicine for adult and pediatric heart patients. Previously the institute had been part of the Kuala Lumpur General Hospital. Since the foundation of the institute, IJN has treated over a million patients and gained recognition as one of the leading Cardiovascular and Thoracic Health Centre in the region.
To ensure IJN continues to be the leading heart institution in the region there are a number of on-going support training schemes and a series of research and development activities.