KUCHING: Online applications for the Senior Citizen Health Benefit (SCHB) will be open from July 22.
Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said as of July 22 there are 75,137 senior citizens qualified to receive the health benefit.
She said eligible senior citizens under SCHB can receive outpatient medical services at private clinics (general practitioners) for health issues such as fever and flu, headaches, diarrhoea and vomiting, sprains, mild skin irritations (allergic/itchy), gout, minor trauma such as minor cuts, and others.
“As for dental clinics, services include extractions, fillings, and dentures (the minimum charge for making dentures is RM250).
“However, the services does not include follow-up treatment for routine Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) such as high blood pressure and diabetes, follow-up treatment for chronic diseases, health screenings that require samples to be sent to a laboratory for testing, telemedicine (virtual healthcare services) – patients/senior citizens must be physically present to receive consultations and treatment at the clinic, aesthetic treatments for beauty and ambulance services,” she added.
“Our target is that by the end of this year, there are 100,000 senior citizens eligible to receive this heath benefit,” she said after chairing a meeting regarding the SCHB here today (July 18).
“The process for the new application will take at the very least, 30 days,” she added.
Fatimah said 168 medical clinics and 77 dental clinics have agreed to be appointed as panel clinics for SCHB.
“As for the specialist hospitals and medical centres, there are 13 of them, with five in Kuching, Sibu (two), Bintulu (two) and Miri (four) that will be appointed as panel hospitals,” she added.
Fatimah also announced that the SCHB will be launched in conjunction with the state level Women’s Day 2024 celebration in Sibu on Aug 10.
“Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg will officiate ar the launching of SCHB,” she said.
Senior citizens who want to apply or check their eligibility for SCHB can visit the following website: Sarawak Service (https://sarawak.gov.my), the Ministry’s website (https://kpwk.sarawak.gov.my), and the State Welfare Departments’ (JKMS) website (https://welfare.sarawak.gov.my).
