TATAU: The Tatau Health Clinic and Bintulu Hospital have received five hemodialysis machines valued at RM205,750.
Women, Children, and Community Welfare Minister Datuk Sri Fatimah Abdullah, facilitated the handover, with two units going to the health clinic and the remaining three to Bintulu hospital, where the hospital director, Dr. Suzalinna Sulaiman, accepted the contributions.
Fatimah said that each hemodialysis machine carries a price tag of RM41,150 and highlighted the critical need for these new units, citing the growing number of patients requiring dialysis treatments at both the clinic and hospital as a primary driver.
“This new unit can increase the number of existing machines due to the increase in the number of patients treated at Tatau Health Clinic and Bintulu Hospital,” said Fatimah recently.
In 2023, the Sarawak Social Welfare Department took significant steps to address this need by procuring 24 hemodialysis machines through a tender process, with the total expenditure reaching RM 987,600.
Fatimah said that the expansion of such services across Sarawak’s government health facilities is driven by three key factors: the rising number of kidney patients, the need to replace outdated machines, and the integration of high-capacity hemodialysis machines, which are capable of treating five to six patients daily.
This year, 13 new patients were enlisted under the Special Aid for Kidney Patients (BKPBP) initiative, with 109 applications approved, marking a total expenditure of RM 2,501,796 for the Bintulu Division.
“This Special Assistance for Kidney Patients is an initiative of the Sarawak government to help ease the burden of kidney patients in Sarawak who need treatment for kidney disease. This assistance has been approved by the state government since March 2020,” she added.
Kidney patients benefiting from BKPBP are eligible for up to RM 1,820 for 12 months. This translates to an annual assistance of RM 21,840 for 14 sessions of hemodialysis treatment, amounting to RM 130 per session, at non-governmental organisation treatment centres.
