KUCHING: The Sarawak government has approved an allocation of RM30, 785,584 in special aid for kidney patients in the state over a five-year period.
Its implementation will kick off next year with a projected sum of RM4,673,917, followed by RM5,505,517 in 2021, RM6,187,117 (2022), RM6,868,717 (2023) and RM7,550,317 (2024).
The allocations will cover annual distribution of haemodialysis machines, emolument for contract appointment officers and treatment for patients.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah revealed this in a press conference at her office in Baitulmakmur building here, yesterday.
According to her, the decision was made during the State Cabinet meeting the previous day.
Fatimah added that the special aid will cover both clinical and support or supplementary assistance.
“Clinical assistance includes one-off installation of Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) at a maximum of RM3, 000 per patient and Erythropoietin (EPO) injection at a maximum of RM240 per patient.
“Apart from that, it will also include haemodialysis treatment at a maximum of RM200 per patient for every treatment session or RM2, 400 per month and Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD) at a maximum of RM2, 800 a month for a patient if there is no slot for haemodialysis treatment,” she explained.
Other supplementary assistance includes placement of 30 new haemodialysis machines for a period of 5 years (6 machines a year), transportation allowance of RM50 for each treatment session with priority for rural patients as well as allowance of RM5, 000 for the cost of accommodation and transportation for patients undergoing kidney transplant at the Kuala Lumpur Hospital.
Fatimah mentioned that the special aid is open to 100 new kidney patients who needed it most starting next year with an increase of 20 percent every following year.
“There is no age limit for an applicant. However, one must be Sarawakian having a MyKad ‘K’ (Sarawak) status and living in the state as well as not being a civil servant, government pensioner or Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributor.
“The applicant must also belong to group B40 or M40 with income per capita not exceeding RM1,020 per month or according to current poverty line and do not receive any treatment subsidy or transportation assistance from any government agencies, private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs),” she added.
A recipient of other assistance but still require supplementary assistance such as transportation allowance can also apply for the special aid in which an evaluation will be done on case by case basis.
The application form can be obtained at any of 31 Sarawak Social Welfare Department (JKMS) branches in the state.
