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KUCHING (Jan 27) – The Sarawak government has allocated RM4.7 million for the Kidney Patient Special Assistance (BKPBP) programme this year, aiming to provide much-needed support to 205 kidney patients across the state.
Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Sarawak, Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah, stated that the programme primarily targets low-income individuals requiring critical kidney-related treatments.
“From January 1, 2020, to April 30, 2024, we approved 590 applications amounting to RM9.9 million. These cases have been extended for the patients’ lifetime while new applications are processed annually,” she said during her visit to the Che Hia Khor Moral Uplifting Society (CHKMUS)-Maaedicare Charity Dialysis Centre.
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The BKPBP programme covers essential clinical treatments, including arteriovenous fistula (AVF) procedures, Erythropoietin (EPO) injections, Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD), and haemodialysis at NGO and private centres. Transport assistance for up to 14 treatment sessions and transplant support are also included.
Currently, 76 recipients are actively benefitting from the programme, with 68 receiving treatment at NGO-run centres and two at private facilities.
“This initiative is open to Sarawakians with ‘K’ status on their IC, regardless of gender or age, who reside in Sarawak. Applicants must fall under the B40 or M40 income groups, with per capita income not exceeding RM1,020 per month,” Fatimah explained.
However, civil servants, pensioners, and Socso contributors are not eligible unless they require additional aid, such as transport assistance, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
In conjunction with Chinese New Year, Fatimah also extended festive greetings to patients during the visit, part of the annual ‘Sejambak Kasih’ programme.
Present at the event were CHKMUS Kidney Foundation chairman Dato Sri Tay Chin Kin and Maaedicare Charitable Foundation CEO Anne Rajasaikaran.